2013 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 2013 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill O'Brien and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the Big Ten Conference and its Leaders Division. Penn State was ineligible to play in a bowl game for the 2013 season, the second season of a four-year ban, due to NCAA sanctions imposed in the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.

2013 Penn State Nittany Lions football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionLeaders Division
2013 record7–5 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill O'Brien
Offensive schemePro Style
Defensive coordinatorJohn Butler (1st as coordinator; 2nd overall season)
Base defense4–3
CaptainGlenn Carson, Ty Howle, DaQuan Jones, John Urschel, Pat Zerbe[1]
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
(Capacity: 106,572)
2013 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Legends Division
No. 3 Michigan State x$  8 0     13 1  
Iowa  5 3     8 5  
Nebraska  5 3     9 4  
Minnesota  4 4     8 5  
Michigan  3 5     7 6  
Northwestern  1 7     5 7  
Leaders Division
No. 12 Ohio State x%  8 0     12 2  
No. 22 Wisconsin  6 2     9 4  
Penn State*  4 4     7 5  
Indiana  3 5     5 7  
Illinois  1 7     4 8  
Purdue  0 8     1 11  
Championship: Michigan State 34, Ohio State 24
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • Penn State ineligible for conference championship game and post-season bowl games due to NCAA sanctions
Rankings from AP Poll

Before the season, Penn State had an open competition to win the starting quarterback position; true freshman Christian Hackenberg won and started all 12 games for the Nittany Lions. Hackenberg headlined their recruiting class, which also featured tight end Adam Breneman. John Butler was named Penn State's new defensive coordinator upon the departure of Ted Roof. Most predicted Penn State would have a similar season to that of the 2012 team, which won eight games and lost four, but there was uncertainty, as injuries could decimate the team, which was already thin at many positions including offensive line and linebacker, while surprise performances from key players could lift them to success.

Penn State opened the season with two non-conference wins, but lost to the UCF Knights, who ultimately went on to a BCS bowl, the Fiesta, in their third game. Entering conference play, the Nittany Lions were 3–1, and in their first conference game they lost to Indiana before defeating Michigan in a quadruple-overtime thriller. They alternated losses and wins for the remainder of the season, losing to Ohio State, Minnesota, and Nebraska, and defeating Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin.

Despite the team never being ranked, several players earned national and conference recognition, headlined by wide receiver Allen Robinson, who was named the Big Ten Conference Receiver of the Year and earned first team all-conference and All-American honors before subsequently announcing he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. Senior John Urschel, an offensive guard, won the William V. Campbell Trophy—sometimes referred to as the "academic Heisman". Hackenberg was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Additionally, backup quarterback Tyler Ferguson, who lost the preseason quarterback competition to Hackenberg, announced his intent to transfer. Soon after the season, two coaches—Ron Vanderlinden and Charlie Fisher—left Penn State for undisclosed reasons, though there was speculation that O'Brien forced them out. A few weeks later, O'Brien accepted the head coaching position with the Houston Texans, leaving the Nittany Lions after two seasons. Early in 2014, the Nittany Lions hired James Franklin to replace O'Brien as head coach for the 2014 season.

Recruiting

Despite NCAA sanctions including limited scholarships and a bowl ban, Penn State retained their top recruit: quarterback Christian Hackenberg.[2] They finished with the 24th ranked recruiting class according to ESPN, who cited retention of top prospects Hackenberg and tight end Adam Breneman, as well as adding depth in the secondary, overall giving them a "B" rating.[3] Linebacker recruit Zayd Issah never enrolled at Penn State after several instances of legal trouble.[4] Entering camp, Hackenberg and Ferguson vied for the starting quarterback position; ultimately, Hackenberg won the job, and Ferguson served as the backup.[5]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date
Christian Hackenberg
QB
Fork Union, VA Fork Union Military Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 4.84 Feb 29, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 88
Adam Breneman
TE
Camp Hill, PA Cedar Cliff High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 229 lb (104 kg) Mar 9, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 85
Brendan Mahon
OG
Randolph, NJ Randolph High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 300 lb (140 kg) Mar 17, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 83
Andrew Nelson
OT
Hershey, PA Hershey High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 262 lb (119 kg) 5.00 Apr 15, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 82
DaeSean Hamilton
WR
Stafford, VA Mountain View High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 4.57 Dec 9, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Garrett Sickels
DE
Little Silver, NJ Red Bank Regional High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 4.68 Mar 4, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 80
Richy Anderson
RB/WR
Frederick, MD Governor Thomas Johnson High School 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oct 28, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Brandon Bell
OLB
Mays Landing, NJ Oakcrest High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 4.6 Jun 13, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Tyler Ferguson
QB
Bakersfield, CA College of the Sequoias (JUCO) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Dec 14, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Jordan Smith
CB
Washington D.C. Howard D. Woodson High School 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Aug 11, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 77
Neiko Robinson
S
Escambia County, FL Northview High School 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 4.51 Jun 4, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Zayd Issah
LB
Harrisburg, PA Central Dauphin High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 4.57 Dec 9, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 75
Kasey Gaines
S
Loganville, GA Grayson High School 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 4.5 Sep 19, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 71
Curtis Cothran
DE
Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania Council Rock High School North 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Mar 26, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 70
Tanner Hartman
OG
Lynchburg, VA Liberty Christian Academy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 4.9 Jul 13, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 69
Parker Cothren
DT
Hazel Green, AL Hazel Green High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Nov 20, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 69
Anthony Smith
DB
Randolph, NJ Cathedral Prep 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Dec 9, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 67
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 46   Rivals: 43  ESPN: 24
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Penn State recruiting - Rivals.com". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  • "Penn State recruiting - Scout.com". Scout.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  • "Penn State football recruits". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  • "2013 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 14, 2013.

    Preseason buildup

    Coming off an 8–4 season during which, according to USA Today's Paul Myerberg, "Attrition robbed Penn State of everything but the kitchen sink, or so we heard, so it was quite surprising when the sink, a few walk-ons, a mathematician, a local kid and a rookie coach went 8–2 after a sluggish start, pushing back against storm clouds and bringing PSU back from the abyss of life post-NCAA sanctions."[6] Many college football analysts expected the Nittany Lions to perform similarly in 2013, although almost all season outlooks noted that the team could take a major step back from 2012 if they were hampered by injuries, or could surprise everyone and win more games than they did in 2012.[7][8][9]

    A solid backfield anchored by Zach Zwinak, a trio of established tight ends plus a promising newcomer, and a veteran offensive line highlighted the projected success offensively, while a new coordinator (John Butler), a "borderline All-American" linebacker (Glenn Carson), and much potential both on the defensive line and in the secondary, the latter of which was "dramatically improved", highlighted projected progress defensively. Also, a quarterback competition between Christian Hackenberg and Tyler Ferguson brewed, which provided intrigue entering the season.[6] For Penn State to achieve success, they needed to avoid injuries that would hinder their already depleted depth due to NCAA sanctions. SBNation.com asserted, "If either Hackenberg or Ferguson gets hurt, and the other one stinks ... if either Zach Zwinak or Bill Belton (who missed four games last year) gets hurt ... if basically any linemen get hurt (and linemen often get hurt) ... this house of cards comes tumbling down."[8] ESPN.com reporter Josh Moyer wrote, "In short, like last year, PSU is a bit of a wild card. If it receives strong efforts from its quarterback and the front seven, it should surpass last year's record. If it doesn't, it might be fortunate to get to seven wins."[7]

    Schedule

    DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
    August 313:30 p.m.vs. Syracuse*ABC/ESPN2W 23–1761,202
    September 712:00 p.m.Eastern Michigan*BTNW 45–792,863
    September 146:00 p.m.UCF*
    • Beaver Stadium
    • University Park, PA
    BTNL 31–3492,855
    September 213:30 p.m.Kent State*
    • Beaver Stadium
    • University Park, PA
    BTNW 34–092,371
    October 512:00 p.m.at IndianaBTNL 24–4442,125
    October 125:00 p.m.No. 18 Michigan
    • Beaver Stadium
    • University Park, PA
    ESPNW 43–40 4OT107,884
    October 268:00 p.m.at No. 4 Ohio StateABCL 14–63105,889
    November 212:00 p.m.Illinois
    • Beaver Stadium
    • University Park, PA
    ESPNW 24–17 OT95,131
    November 912:00 p.m.at MinnesotaESPN2L 10–2448,123
    November 1612:00 p.m.Purdue
    • Beaver Stadium
    • University Park, PA
    BTNW 45–2196,491
    November 233:30 p.m.Nebraska
    • Beaver Stadium
    • University Park, PA
    BTNL 20–23 OT98,517
    November 303:30 p.m.at No. 14 WisconsinESPNW 31–2478,064
    • *Non-conference game
    • Homecoming
    • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
    • All times are in Eastern time

    Personnel

    Coaching staff

    NamePositionSeason at
    Penn State
    Season in
    current role
    Alma Mater
    Bill O'BrienHead Coach2nd2ndBrown (1992)
    John ButlerDefensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks2nd1stCatholic University (1994)
    Charlie FisherQuarterbacks2nd2ndSpringfield College (1981)
    Stan HixonAssistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers2nd2ndIowa State (1979)
    Larry JohnsonDefensive Line18th14thElizabeth City State (1973)
    Charles LondonRunning Backs/Recruiting Coordinator2nd2ndDuke (1996)
    Mac McWhorterOffensive Line2nd2ndGeorgia (1974)
    Anthony MidgetSafeties1st1stVirginia Tech (2000)
    John StrolloTight Ends2nd2ndBoston College (1976)
    Ron VanderlindenLinebackers13th13thAlbion (1977)
    Reference:[10]
    Graduate assistants

    Position key

    Back B Center C Cornerback CB Defensive back DB
    Defensive end DE Defensive lineman DL Defensive tackle DT End E
    Fullback FB Guard G Halfback HB Kicker K
    Kickoff returner KR Offensive tackle OT Offensive lineman OL Linebacker LB
    Long snapper LS Punter P Punt returner PR Quarterback QB
    Running back RB Safety S Tight end TE Wide receiver WR

    Roster

    2013 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
    Players Coaches
    Offense
    Pos.#NameClass
    RB 1 Bill Belton Jr
    WR 2 DaeSean Hamilton Fr
    WR 2 Jake Kiley  Fr
    QB 3 Austin Whipple Fr
    QB 5 Tyler Ferguson So
    WR 6 Chris Geiss Fr
    WR 7 Geno Lewis  Fr
    WR 8 Allen Robinson Jr
    WR 10 Deshawn Baker So
    TE 11 Brent Wilkerson  Fr
    QB 12 Jack Seymour Fr
    QB 14 Christian Hackenberg Fr
    WR 15 Alex Kenney  Jr
    QB 17 D. J. Crook Fr
    TE 18 Jesse James So
    WR 19 Richy Anderson Fr
    RB 21 Brian Tomasetti Fr
    RB 22 Akeel Lynch  Fr
    RB 25 Von Walker Fr
    RB 27 Adam Geiger Fr
    RB 28 Zach Zwinak Jr
    FB 32 Jack Haffner  Fr
    RB 33 Chip Chiappialle Fr
    FB 34 Dominic Salomone  Fr
    FB 35 Pat Zerbe Sr
    RB 36 Deron Thompson  So
    C 55 Wendy Laurent  Fr
    G/T 56 Anthony Alosi  So
    G 57 Tanner Hartman Fr
    T 58 Adam Gress  Sr
    T 59 Andrew Nelson Fr
    C 60 Ty Howle  Sr
    G 64 John Urschel  Sr
    C 65 Miles Dieffenbach  Jr
    G 66 Angelo Mangiro  So
    OL 67 Andrew Terlingo Fr
    G 68 Bryan Davie  Jr
    G 70 Brendan Mahon Fr
    OL 73 Austin Fiedler Fr
    OL 74 Evan Galimberti Fr
    G 75 Eric Shrive Sr
    T 76 Donovan Smith  So
    T 77 Garry Gilliam  Jr
    OL 78 Tom Devenney Fr
    T 79 Kevin Blanchard  So
    WR 80 Matt Zanellato  So
    TE 81 Adam Breneman Fr
    WR 82 Gregg Garrity Fr
    WR 83 Luke Vadas Fr
    TE 84 Matt Lehman  Sr
    WR 85 Brandon Felder  Sr
    TE 87 Kyle Carter  So
    WR 88 Jonathan Warner  Fr
    TE 89 Tom Pancoast Fr
    Defense
    Pos.#NameClass
    S 1 Malcolm Willis  Sr
    CB 3 Da'Quan Davis So
    S 4 Adrian Amos Jr
    LB 5 Nyeem Wartman  Fr
    S 6 Malik Golden  Fr
    S/LB 7 Stephen Obeng-Agyapong  Sr
    LB 8 Gary Wooten  Fr
    CB 9 Jordan Lucas So
    CB 10 Trevor Williams So
    CB 12 Jordan Smith Fr
    CB 13 Jesse Merise So
    DB 14 Kasey Gaines Fr
    CB 16 Devin Pryor  So
    DB 17 Dad Poquie Fr
    DE 18 Deion Barnes  So
    LB 22 T.J. Rhattigan  So
    S 23 Ryan Keiser  Jr
    CB 24 Anthony Smith Fr
    LB 26 Brandon Bell Fr
    S 27 Colin Harrop  Fr
    LB 30 Charles Idemudia  Fr
    DE 31 Brad Bars  Jr
    LB 32 Kyle Searfoss Fr
    DB 34 Jordan Dudas Jr
    LB 35 Matthew Baney So
    LB 36 Hunter Crafford Fr
    LB 38 Ben Kline  So
    CB 39 Jesse Della Valle  Jr
    LB 40 Glenn Carson  Sr
    DT 41 Parker Cothren Fr
    LB 42 Carter Henderson Fr
    LB 43 Mike Hull  Jr
    LB 46 Adam Cole  Fr
    LB 47 Brandon Smith Fr
    LB 48 Ryan Ammerman Fr
    LB 49 Garth Lakitsky Jr
    LB 50 Mike Wiand Fr
    LB 51 Drew Boyce  So
    DE 52 Curtis Cothran Fr
    DT 53 Derek Dowrey  Fr
    DT 72 Brian Gaia  Fr
    DT 84 Kyle Baublitz  Jr
    DE 86 C.J. Olaniyan  Jr
    DT 88 Tyrone Smith  Jr
    DE 90 Garrett Sickels Fr
    DT 91 DaQuan Jones Sr
    DE 92 Albert Hall  Fr
    DE 94 Evan Schwan  Fr
    DE 95 Carl Nassib  So
    DE 98 Anthony Zettel  So
    DT 99 Austin Johnson  Fr
    Special teams
    Pos.#NameClass
    K, P 37 Chris Gulla Fr
    SN 44 Tyler Yazujian  Fr
    P 45 Alex Butterworth Sr
    SN 54 Sean Corcoran Fr
    SN 61 Zach Ladonis Fr
    PK 97 Sam Ficken Jr
    Head coach
    Coordinators/assistant coaches

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • Injured
    • Redshirt

    Roster
    Last update: end of 2013 season

    Depth chart

    Game summaries

    August 31 vs. Syracuse

    Penn State vs. Syracuse – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Penn State 0 6 71023
    Syracuse 0 3 7717

    at MetLife Stadium

    Game information

    Note: Though the game was held at a neutral site, Penn State wore white uniforms and was considered the away team.[16]

    Prior to the game, Penn State coach Bill O'Brien hoped to keep his choice between Tyler Ferguson and Christian Hackenberg as starting quarterback a secret until the first snap.[17][18] However, the night before the game, media reports began to surface that Hackenberg was going to be the starter.[19][20] Hackenberg did start for the Nittany Lions, while Oklahoma transfer Drew Allen started for Syracuse, who had a quarterback competition as well. After Hackenberg played the first two drives for Penn State, Ferguson came in and promptly fumbled the football for a turnover and did not return. Allen Robinson, the Big Ten's leading receiver in 2012, did not start for what O'Brien said was, "between me and Allen", but he did play in the second half.[21][22]

    After a scoreless first quarter, the second quarter featured three turnovers, and at half time, Penn State led 6–3 with two field goals from senior kicker Sam Ficken. On Penn State's first drive in the second half, Allen Robinson returned and caught a screen pass, which he ran for 25 yards, and then a 51-yard touchdown pass to make the score 13–3.[22] On the ensuing drive, however, Syracuse came right back and scored a touchdown via a Jerome Smith 10-yard run. Early in the fourth quarter, Ficken made his third field goal of the day, a career-long 46 yards.[23] Later in the quarter, Hackenberg threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Eugene Lewis to make the score 23–10.[24] When only down by 6 points, Syracuse got the ball around their own 45-yard line with a little over two minutes left, but turned the ball over via an interception with under two minutes to play.[25]

    Hackenberg was named the Big Ten freshman of the week after totaling 278 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, and Ficken was named Big Ten special teams player of the week, redeeming himself from the 2012 season,[26] after kicking three field goals including a career-long 46-yard kick.[27] Seniors DaQuan Jones and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong led the team defensively with nine tackles, including three for a loss, and a sack at defensive tackle, and eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble that he recovered, and an interception at safety and linebacker respectively.[28][29] After it was announced that Penn State lost senior tight end Matt Lehman for the season with a knee injury during the game, O'Brien announced that Obeng-Agyapong might practice with the tight ends to help replace him.[30]

    September 7 vs. Eastern Michigan

    Penn State vs. Eastern Michigan – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Eastern Michigan 7 0 007
    Penn State 7 10 72145

    at Beaver Stadium

    Game information

    Prior to the game, Penn State was predicted to have the advantage on both sides of the ball at every position,[32][33] and as such, was expected to win handily.[34] Coming into the game, Penn State had sustained injuries two of their top tight ends, Matt Lehman and Kyle Carter. Lehman suffered a knee injury against Syracuse and was out for the season,[35] while Carter was "day-to-day" with an arm injury, but played in the game.[36] The Lions wanted to focus on improving their running game, which was lackluster against Syracuse; Eastern Michigan allowed 202 rushing yards on 5.8 yards per carry in week one.[37] Defensively, linebacker depth was an issue for the Lions. Safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong was expected to step up and take snaps at linebacker, in addition to speculation he could end up on offense.[26][35] At half time, the Nittany Lions honored the 1973 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and retired the number of Penn State's only Heisman Trophy winner, number 22 John Cappelletti.[38]

    Penn State played all of its home games at Beaver Stadium

    After both teams' first drives ended without points, Eastern Michigan got good field position to start their second drive, and attempted a 35-yard field goal, but after a low snap, Penn State defender Jordan Lucas tackled the holder for a loss, and the kick never got off, for a turnover on downs. Penn State failed to capitalize, however, as Hackenberg threw another incomplete pass on third down, starting the game with one completion in five attempts. Eastern Michigan scored first after the ball slipped from Hackenberg's hands and was returned for a touchdown by Hunter Matt for 11 yards, giving Eastern Michigan a 7–0 advantage with 4:01 in the first quarter. Penn State responded on their next drive scoring a touchdown on a 2-yard Zach Zwinak run, capping a 6-play, 67-yard drive that included a 43-yard reception to Allen Robinson to put the ball inside the 10-yard line. Penn State's next drive featured a hurry up offense, which Penn State calls "NASCAR",[39] included 15+ yard completions to Jesse James and Matt Zanellato, and culminated with two consecutive runs by Bill Belton, the latter of which went for a 5-yard touchdown making the score 14–7. Eastern Michigan's ensuing drive had some success, as they got to Penn State 25-yard line prior to kicker Dylan Mulder pushing a 42-yard field goal attempt to the right of the goal posts. At the end of the first half, Penn State got into field goal range with under a minute to go, and Sam Ficken converted a 39-yard field goal, his Penn State record 14th straight,[40] to make the score 17–7 with 17 seconds in the half. Penn State got the ball to start the second half, but exchanged punts with Eastern Michigan for their first three drives, both teams punting the ball away on their first three drives.[41] On their fourth drive of the half, Penn State got to the board – on a six play drive that included a 20-yard run by Zwinak on 3rd and 24 (after two sacks) and a subsequent fourth down conversion, and then culminated with a 7-yard touchdown run by Zwinak making the score 24–7. After a quick punt, Penn State began to grind it out offensively prior to Hackenberg finding Robinson for a 45-yard touchdown pass to make it 31–7. Later in the quarter, Belton broke loose for a 51-yard touchdown run, putting him over 100 rushing yards on the day making the score 38–7. After Eastern Michigan punted for the 10th time in the game, Penn State brought in Tyler Ferguson at quarterback to replace Hackenberg, who had already amassed 311 passing yards, a Penn State single game freshman record.[42][43] On that drive, Akeel Lynch became the third Nittany Lion to rush for a touchdown, an 18-yard run with under five minutes to go.[38] That would be the final scoring play of the game; Penn State won 45–7.[44][45]

    The Penn State defense struggled with defending the bootleg play early on,[40] but recorded a shut out (the seven points for Eastern Michigan were off an offensive fumble) and limited Eastern Michigan to 183 total yards.[38] They were led by senior defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, who recorded nine tackles and two sacks, Glenn Carson, who recorded 10 tackles, and Nyeem Wartman, who recorded six tackles and three pass deflections.[40] On offense, the "running back by committee" approach proved successful – the two non-starters, Belton and Lynch, each recorded 108 rushing yards. One problem offensively was third down efficiency; the Lions were just 1 of 10 on third downs, bringing them to 2 of 26 on the season.[46] One writer called Jones the game's MVP, noting his statistics, plugging holes opened by the offensive line, and overall "dominance", noting that he "put on an absolute display".[47]

    September 14 vs. UCF

    Penn State vs. UCF – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    UCF 7 14 10334
    Penn State 7 3 71431

    at Beaver Stadium

    Game information

    This was the two teams' first meeting since 2004, and the meeting reunited O'Brien and George O'Leary, under whom O'Brien was a graduate assistant in 1995, his first season coaching. The two squads are also set to meet in Ireland to open the 2014 season.[48] In an article in The Patriot-News, writer Bob Flounders asserted that if the Nittany Lions beat the Knights of UCF, they would be on a fast track to a 5–0 start, which would have been their first since 2008.[49] As this was Penn State's first night game with a particularly young team, keeping emotions in check was a key,[50] as was improving third down efficiency (the Lions were 2-for-26 on the season) good for dead last in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).[51] UCF, who was 2–0 coming into the game, went 10–4 in 2012, and was led by their running back Latavius Murray, who graduated. As such, their top offensive player was quarterback Blake Bortles. Defensively, they had only allowed one scoring play all season.[52] Penn State students organized a "whiteout", in which the entire student section dons white.[53] Outside linebacker Mike Hull returned after missing the prior game against Eastern Michigan.[54]

    UCF got the ball to start the game at their nine-yard line after a penalty on the kickoff return, and their junior quarterback Blake Bortles orchestrated an efficient drive in which he converted two third downs and was 6/7 passing for 65 yards and a 4-yard touchdown pass to Storm Johnson. Penn State took over and got two first downs, the latter of which as a fourth down conversion, before a 44-yard pass to Allen Robinson immediately followed by a 6-yard touchdown run by Zach Zwinak to tie the game. Penn State moved the ball on their next drive, but ultimately turned the ball over on downs giving UCF good field position, with which they ran a two play drive culminating with a 58-yard touchdown run by Johnson to make it 14–7 UCF.[55] Penn State's special teams responded with a 44-yard kickoff return by Geno Lewis, but their offense went three-and-out, and though they punted the ball deep into UCF territory, the Knights marched down the field with a strong running game and scored another touchdown to go up 21–7. On Penn State's ensuing drive, Sam Ficken kicked a career-long 47-yard field goal.[56] UCF got some decent yardage on their next drive, but Bortles threw his first interception since October 27, 2012 with 1:17 in the half, but they ran down the clock and Ficken missed his first field goal attempt of the season, a 57-yard try as time expired. At the half, UCF had 290 total yards including 170 rushing yards, compared to 220 total yards for Penn State with only 89 rushing yards. Penn State got the ball to start the second half, but punted on their first drive. UCF responded with a touchdown via a 25-yard pass. Penn State came right back with a touchdown of their own. UCF's ensuing drive brought them to the one yard line, but Penn State held them to a field goal, making the score 31–17. Zwinak rushed for his third touchdown of the game on Penn State's next drive, and Shawn Moffitt kicked his second field goal of the game. Penn State drove 51 yards on their next drive before Zwinak lost a fumble with 5:43 remaining in the game.[57] UCF went three-and-out, and on their punt, the snap went over the punter's head, and Penn State got the ball at the UCF 25. Penn State took advantage, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown pass to Allen Robinson with 57 seconds left.[58] Penn State needed to regain possession of the ball after the score, and failed to do so, so ultimately UCF held on to win by three.[59]

    Penn State's defense had excelled in their first two games, but regressed significantly against Central Florida, particularly with poor tackling, which some attributed to their practice strategy of "thud" tackling, in which one does not actually take a player to the ground, instead making a "thud" to stop a player. Several media outlets speculated that the Lions used this due to their lack of scholarship players in the wake of sanctions imposed due to the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. Defensive coordinator John Butler renounced that assertion, commenting he employed "thud" when he coached at South Carolina.[60] Penn State's linebackers were also criticized; Glenn Carson and Nyeem Wartman received criticism for not being as strong as the 2012 team's Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges. In addition, 2012 Big Ten Freshman of the Year defensive end Deion Barnes "barely wreaked any havoc", and DaQuan Jones, whose strong play had previously compensated for Barnes' weak play, was held to just five tackles.[61] The offense, however, was considered a "bright spot"; they gained 455 total yards, though receiver Allen Robinson commented that a fast start would have helped them gain more early momentum: "We are in the Big Ten playing against some great offenses and people are going to put points up early, so we need to get going early and start off fast."[62] Freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades for the second time in the first three weeks of the season.[63]

    September 21 vs. Kent State

    Penn State vs. Kent State – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Kent State 0 0 000
    Penn State 7 7 71334

    at Beaver Stadium

    Game information

    Penn State came into the game 2–1, while the Kent State Golden Flashes entered 1–2, including 0–1 in conference play, though this was a non-conference matchup. Kent State was expected to be without their star offensive weapon, wide receiver and running back Dri Archer, who suffered lingering effects from an ankle injury sustained in week one.[64] In 2012, Archer rushed for 1,429 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, led the Golden Flashes in receptions and receiving yards, and recorded three kickoff returns for touchdowns; he even received some Heisman hype (he did not win).[65] Without Archer, Kent State would have to more heavily rely on their freshman quarterback Colin Reardon, who had "not exactly dazzled" in Kent State's first three games, but had yet to throw an interception.[66] Picking up the slack in the running game was Trayvion Durham, who had a total of 152 rushing yards in their first three games.[10] The game also featured two top sophomore defensive ends – NFL prospects Roosevelt Nix for Kent State and Deion Barnes for Penn State, neither of whom had gotten off to a particularly strong start to the season, but both of whom had won their conference's freshman of the year award in 2012.[65][67][68] Penn State also looked to rebound from sloppy tackling the previous week against UCF that underscored an overall poor defensive performance.[66] Offensively for Penn State, a quarter of the way through the season, one ESPN writer projected Allen Robinson to win the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year award, and Christian Hackenberg to win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award for their strong performances through the first three games.[69] That duo along with the running back trio of Zach Zwinak, Bill Belton, and Akeel Lynch led Penn State's offense,[70] which was coming off a performance in which they had scored 31 points, into the game.[71][72]

    In heavy rain that announcer Kevin Kugler described as a "deluge", Penn State's Blue Band wore ponchos in the stands during a "blue out", to support the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape.[10] After Penn State went three-and-out to start the game, Kent State got excellent field position at the opposition's 36-yard line after Penn State committed kick catching interference on the punt, but failed to capitalize as their kicker, Anthony Melchiori, missed a 31-yard field goal.[73] Penn State's next drive stalled, and on fourth down, quarterback Christian Hackenberg executed a "pooch punt", in which the quarterback lines up in the shotgun formation, and punts the ball, for 44-yards pinning Kent State inside their 10-yard line.[74] Penn State drove down the field late in the first quarter getting it to the five-yard line, when Hackenberg had the ball slip from his hand backing Penn State up to the 15-yard line, but on the subsequent play, Hackenberg completed a 15-yard pass to Bill Belton for a touchdown to culminate a 9-play, 87-yard drive encapsulating 3:39.[73] Kent State's offense again proved ineffective, and Penn State's proved strong, as they drove down the field on a 10-play, 82-yard drive ending with Zach Zwinak running for a 2-yard touchdown. Towards the end of the first half, the teams began to exchange punts, and the half ended with Penn State ahead 14–0. In the third quarter, Hackenberg threw an interception, but on the next drive, Kent State threw an interception and Penn State got the ball back. Later in the quarter, Penn State ran a 51-yard drive that got them inside the ten-yard line down to the one, at which point Zwinak ran for a touchdown, his second of the game. Later in the quarter, Penn State began another drive that spilled into the fourth quarter on which Akeel Lynch was the primary running back for the Lions, running for a total of 78 yards en route to Sam Ficken booting his first field goal of the game, a 25-yarder. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Penn State embarked on a drive that milked over five-and-a-half minutes off the clock and culminated with Zwinak rushing for his third touchdown of the game, a one-yard score with 6:42 to play. After another lackluster drive by Kent State, they punted for the ninth time, and on Penn State's ensuing drive, Tyler Ferguson entered at quarterback, and Von Walker, a member of Penn State's "run-on" program,[70] entered at running back,[75] and on the drive, Ficken kicked a personal record 54-yard field goal, the longest by a Penn State player since 1979,[76] which was the final scoring play of the game, whose final score was 34–0.[77][78]

    Penn State's defense excelled, shutting out an opponent for the first time since the 2010 season, also against Kent State. The Lions held Kent State to 190 total yards – just 56 rushing yards,[79] and allowed them to move into Penn State territory only twice out of 14 drives. In the post game media conference, Coach Bill O'Brien commended his defensive coordinator John Butler for his hard work in practice the previous week to rebound from an embarrassing performance against Central Florida.[80] Defensive end Deion Barnes recorded his first sack of the season, and safety Ryan Keiser made his first career interception, while linebacker Glenn Carson led the team with seven tackles.[79] Offensively, Penn State was led by their tandem at running back – trio Zach Zwinak, who had three touchdown rushes, excelling in the grind-it-out style of play Penn State employed in the rain, Bill Belton rushed for 90 yards on 13 carries and had a receiving touchdown,[81] and Akeel Lynch had a "career day", rushing for 123 yards on just 14 carries.[82] The passing game faltered in the rainy conditions, as Christian Hackenberg frequently forced the ball to Allen Robinson for incomplete passes – Robinson finished with 3 receptions, and Hackenberg with 22 incomplete passes and an interception.[83] Penn State did improve on third downs, converting 7-of-18, but remained in the bottom of the FBS, 120 out of 123 teams.[84]

    Bye week #1 – September 28, 2013

    After their first four non-conference games, Penn State had their first of two mid-season bye weeks, this one heading into conference play.[85] Off the field, Penn State received relief from sanctions imposed in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal; based on a recommendation from independent integrity monitor George Mitchell, Penn State was allowed to have five additional scholarships in 2014, and up to the full 25 by 2015, meaning they would have the full 85 by the 2016 season.[86]

    “The decision is the result of a thoughtful and deliberative process to ensure we reached the most appropriate outcome. During our discussions, we had the benefit of engaging with Senator Mitchell’s expert perspective and the views of our Big Ten colleagues.” – Rita Hartung Cheng, chair of the NCAA executive committee meetings regarding Mitchell's annual report[86]

    The reduction of penalties led to an article in The Patriot News on whether Penn State achieved an "unequivocal" bye week victory, perhaps even their biggest victory of the season.[87]

    On the field, several keys for improvement were identified within the media, including finding a secondary receiver to Allen Robinson, strengthening the secondary, and continuing improvement on third downs.[84] Also, Penn State's tight end tandem, which struggled during non-conference play, needed to improve, particularly as Penn State had a young quarterback in Christian Hackenberg who would face tougher defenses in conference play.[88]

    October 5 vs. Indiana

    Penn State vs. Indiana – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Penn State 0 7 10724
    Indiana 7 6 82344

    at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

    Game information

    In their second game away from Beaver Stadium of the season, the Nittany Lions traveled to Bloomington, Indiana for their game against the Indiana Hoosiers, their first conference opponent. This was the teams' 17th meeting, with Penn State owning a 16–0 record coming into the game.[89] Indiana featured the Big Ten's best passing offense in 2012, led by quarterback Chase Coffman, who returned in 2013.[90] Indiana entered the game with a record of 2–2. As they had in 2012,[90] struggled defensively in their first four games, averaging giving up nearly 33 points per game.[91] Their offense however, had shined thus far, and had come into their previous game, a 45–28 loss to Missouri, averaging 50 points per game, but sputtered against the Tigers.[92] A preview on SB Nation noted that Indiana's pass first offense might "cause problems" for Penn State, though it expressed some optimism, as Mike Hull finally returned and Adrian Amos moved from safety to cornerback.[93] Offensively for Penn State, balancing the running game with the passing game was a key – in the previous season's game against Indiana, Penn Statewide receiver Allen Robinson caught 10 passes for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns[94] – as this was expected to be a developmental game for freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg. There was no conclusive advantage on special teams.[93]

    Penn State got the ball to start the game, and drove down the field with relative ease (facing only one third down) prior to stalling at their 26-yard line and turning the ball over on downs. After an Indiana three and out, Penn State ran another drive at the end of which they turned over on downs. Each team ran one more drive before Indiana attained first downs on three consecutive plays, ultimately culminating their possession with a five-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nate Sudfeld to Isaiah Roundtree, making the score 7–0 at the end of the first quarter.[95] Penn State responded on their second drive of the second quarter via a 46-yard pass from Hackenberg to Robinson to tie the game. Later, Mitch Ewald kicked a short field goal to re-take the lead. Penn State had a chance to tie the game again when kicker Sam Ficken attempted a 42-yard field goal, but Indiana blocked the kick, and with their ensuing momentum drove down the field at the end of the half, ultimately ending with Ewald hitting a field goal as time expired.[95] After halftime, Indiana ran a quick drive on which they punted before Penn State ran a 13-play, 80-yard drive that concluded with Robinson catching his second touchdown of the game, a 26-yard pass from Hackenberg. Indiana responded with a quick score; they converted a two-point conversion to take a 21–14 lead. Late in the third quarter, Hackenberg threw a fade pattern to Robinson in the corner of the end zone, which Robinson corralled, but he landed on his back out of bounds, and came up either with the wind knocked out, or some sort of back injury. Penn State settled for a field goal,[96] and at the end of three, Indiana led 21–17. The fourth quarter entrenched the Hoosiers' lead, as they totaled 23 points to only 7 for Penn State, winning the game 44–24, their final score coming on a safety.[95]

    Dubbed the "low point ... of the Bill O'Brien era" and Penn State's first ever loss to the Hoosiers, lack of execution was a primary problem for the Nittany Lions; Penn State was just one-of-five on fourth down conversion attempts, a few of which they attempted while in Sam Ficken's field goal range, and on two field goal attempts, there were two botched snaps, the first of which led to a blocked kick, the latter getting past the holder and rolling 31 yards by the time Ficken fell on the ball for a turnover on downs.[96] O'Brien also conceded that poor coaching did not help the Lions, and that he tried to "manufacture" momentum at several points in the game: "We coached very average today." − Bill O'Brien[97]

    October 12 vs. Michigan

    Michigan vs. Penn State – Game summary
    1 2 34OT2OT3OT4OTTotal
    #18 Michigan 10 0 177030340
    Penn State 7 14 310030643

    at Beaver Stadium

    • Date: October 12
    • Game time: 5:00 p.m. EDT
    • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), partly cloudy
    • Game attendance: 107,884 (sellout)[98]
    • Referee: Todd Geerlings
    • TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), Maria Taylor (sideline)
    • ESPN Box Score
    Game information

    In the teams' first meeting since the 2010 season, the Nittany Lions looked to achieve their fourth consecutive win in the series, however even a hometown paper, the York Daily Record, predicted the Lions would lose, albeit in a close game, citing Michigan's superiority on both offense and defense, as well as coaching, compared to Penn State's superiority on special teams and intangibles.[99]

    "Coming off a loss like (Indiana) is just going to motivate us harder. I see more focus in our team after losses ... gets us to work harder in practice, in the film room in order to get a win because we're hungry. We're just more determined – we're hungry for a win. We really want it. We really need it. ... The best way to get over that loss, that feeling of a loss, is to win a game. So we're really searching for this one."

    Glenn Carson, Penn State senior middle linebacker, October 11, 2013[98]

    Penn State's edition of SB Nation also predicted the Lions would lose citing the Wolverines' better athletes, but noted that Michigan's quarterback Devin Gardner has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns (8) coming into the game, and that Penn State's best chance to win would be if Michigan turned the ball over frequently.[100] Coming off an embarrassing loss against Indiana, Penn State's coach Bill O'Brien was "focused" all week and refused to talk to the media about the prior week's loss, focusing strictly on the Michigan game, which was Homecoming for Penn State, was expected to be the first sellout of the season, and featured a whiteout, led by the student section. O'Brien noted, "it would be crazy to think this is just another game".[98] The game was Penn State's second national broadcast of the year, with Penn State alumnus Matt Millen providing color commentary on Penn State's homecoming weekend.[31] Michigan, coming off a 42–13 victory over Minnesota, entered the game with a win-loss record of 5–0, one of two remaining undefeated teams in the Big Ten (the other was Ohio State, who was 6–0, and whom the Lions are scheduled to play on October 26).[101] Michigan's defense, led by their star cornerback Blake Countless, who was tied for the NCAA lead with four interceptions entering the game, had yet to allow a rushing touchdown,[99] and was expected to receive a boost from the return of their 2012 All-Big Ten linebacker Jake Ryan, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) the prior season. As such, a key for Penn State was to match Michigan's physicality in strong offensive line play and establish the line of scrimmage, both on offense and defense, as the game would be won in the trenches.[101] The game was described as a "critical juncture".[102] Before the game, Penn State realized that, due to a Ticketmaster glitch, it had oversold student section tickets, and was forced to offer several alternate packages in order not to have to boot students.[103]

    With a Goodyear blimp overhead,[104] Michigan got the ball to start the game, and on their first play from scrimmage, they lost three yards when DaQuan Jones made a tackle for a loss stopping Fitzgerald Toussaint; the loss decimated the drive, which ended in a three-and-out. Penn State's drive was no more successful – after one first down, Christian Hackenberg threw an interception. On Michigan's ensuing drive, however, they were set up on another third down and long, and Penn State's Jordan Lucas picked off Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner's pass, setting Penn State up in the red zone. Penn State capitalized, as Hackenberg threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Brandon Felder. Michigan struck right back, getting two first downs in the running game prior to Gardner throwing a 59-yard touchdown pass to Devin Funchess to tie the game. Penn State did not get a first down on their next drive and tried to convert fourth down deep in their own territory, but failed, setting Michigan up with excellent field position. Penn State's defense, however, responded, with Glenn Carson sacking Gardner to put Michigan out of field goal range, forcing a punt that Michigan downed around the five yard line. On Michigan's next drive, their kicker Brendan Gibbons made a 47-yard field goal.[105] After Penn State again punted, Michigan embarked on a drive that included a third-and-long conversion, but ultimately ended when Gardner threw an interception to Penn State defensive end Anthony Zettel, who started over Deion Barnes.[106] It took Penn State only one play to capitalize; Hackenberg threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jesse James to put Penn State back up 14–10.[104] Penn State struck again later in the quarter, again via a touchdown pass from Hackenberg to Felder. Late in the first half, Penn State defensive end C. J. Olaniyan sacked Gardner for the second time, forcing a fumble, which Penn State recovered, but their drive stalled, and they punted. Penn State held a 21–10 advantage at halftime.[104][105][107][108]

    On Penn State's first play from scrimmage in the second half, Zach Zwinak fumbled, and it was returned for a touchdown by Frank Clark to pull within four points. After another Penn State drive stalled, Michigan drove down the field, and was faced with a third-and-short before a freshman offensive lineman committed a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to back up Michigan to face a third and long; on that play Olaniyan recorded his third sack of the day, and Michigan punted. On Penn State's ensuing drive, they turned the ball over again, this time via a Hackenberg interception; Michigan capitalized by kicking a field goal. When Penn State got the ball back, they ran a sustained, balanced drive (4 run plays, 5 pass plays, 50 yards) down the field during which they went to Bill Belton in the running game (as Zwinak had fumbled previously in the half) that culminated with Sam Ficken kicking a 45-yard field goal to go up by 4 points. Michigan promptly drove right back down the field, and Gardner threw a touchdown pass to Jeremy Gallon to take the lead for the second time, 27–24. In the fourth quarter, Ficken attempted a 47-yard field goal, but missed, and Penn State's 10-play 45-yard drive came up empty. Michigan took advantage of their ensuing field position and ran a quick drive that ended with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Gardner to Funchess, putting them on top by 10 with 10:28 to go. On Penn State's ensuing drive, they converted a fourth down and one near midfield prior to a penalty and then a sack setting up a third and long on which Hackenberg threw an incomplete pass, so they were forced to settle with pulling within 7; Sam Ficken kicked a 43-yard field goal. Michigan tried to run out the clock on their next drive, and Penn State burned all three of their timeouts. Though they were at one point within field goal range, they committed a five-yard delay of game penalty that pushed them out of range, and they had to punt. Penn State got the ball with 50 seconds left and no timeouts at their own 20-yard line. Needing a touchdown to tie the game, Penn State's first play of scrimmage was a pass from Hackenberg to Robinson along the sideline that was ruled incomplete on the field, but was reviewed and overturned and counted as a 14-yard gain. The next play was an acrobatic catch by Felder for 29 yards, and then a pass down the sideline to Robinson for 36 yards to put the ball inside the one yard line with 29 seconds remaining. Michigan then called their final timeout. Hackenberg then attempted a quarterback sneak over the right side for a touchdown; the play was reviewed and the call was confirmed, and Ficken made the extra point to tie the game with 27 seconds left. Michigan took the ball at their own 35, drove it to the other 35, and lined Gibbons up to attempt a 52-yard field goal, which he missed short. Penn State got the ball with two seconds left, but downed the ball to send the game into overtime.[105][108]

    Penn State got the ball to start overtime, but went three-and-out and Ficken missed a field goal. Michigan used their entire possession to try to center the ball for Gibbons, and then they attempted a field goal, but it was blocked, to send the game into a second overtime.[109] Michigan got the ball to start the second overtime, achieved one first down, and Gibbons redeemed himself, kicking a 25-yard field goal. Ficken responded, tacking on a 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 37, headed into a third overtime. Penn State got the ball to start the third overtime, but on their first play, an end-around to Robinson that he fumbled and was recovered by Clark to set up Michigan with a chance to win the game with any score. Gibbons had an opportunity to win the game, but missed wide, and sent the game into a fourth overtime. Michigan got the ball to start the fourth overtime, and stalled, leaving Gibbons to attempt a 40-yard field goal, which he made to put the Wolverines on top 40–37. Penn State then needed a field goal to tie, or a touchdown to win. Faced with a fourth down and one, O'Brien sent his team out on the field to go for it, and they converted via a two-yard run by Belton. Three plays later, Hackenberg threw an incomplete pass intended for Robinson in the end zone, but officials called pass interference on the play, which occurred in the end zone, resulting in the ball being placed at the two yard line. On Penn State's next play, Hackenberg handed the ball off to Belton, who ran it in for a two-yard touchdown, winning the game for Penn State.[105][107][108]

    The four-overtime game was the longest in Big Ten Conference history.[110] For their performance in the game, Athlon Sports named Hackenberg as both its Big Ten and National Freshman of the Week, and Olaniyan as its Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. Hackenberg threw for over 300 yards for the third time, already moving him into a tie for third-most all time in Penn State history, tied with Daryll Clark, and behind Matt McGloin and Kerry Collins; it was the third time he had been named freshman of the week. Olaniyan recorded 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble (that was recovered by DaQuan Jones), and this was his first career Big Ten Player of the Week accolade.[111] ESPN named the game the best of the season's first half, and Robinson's catch late in regulation was named the number-one play on Sports Center's Top Ten.[112]

    Bye week #2 – October 19, 2013

    After Penn State's quadruple overtime win against Michigan, they tried to get healthy, with veterans being held out of a scrimmage that occurred during the week of practice, instead working on conditioning. One ESPN writer opined that defensive coordinator John Butler needed to emphasize reworking the secondary, similar to how he had focused on reworking the defensive line, which was successful during the prior week's game. Also, Penn State needed to find additional "playmakers" to supplement Allen Robinson in the receiving game, as well as determine who would lead the running game, as Zach Zwinak had fumbled against Michigan and was taken out, and Bill Belton took over and performed well.[114] Halfway through the season, ESPN.com rated Robinson as the team's offensive MVP, and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones as the team's defensive MVP. The midseason report noted that Penn State had a grueling schedule in the second half of the season that would test the depth of its defense, limited by lack of scholarship players.[115] Lancaster Newspapers concurred with ESPN, awarding their first half offensive and defensive MVPs to Robinson and Jones respectively as well, adding Sam Ficken as special teams MVP. The column also called sophomore defensive end Deion Barnes the biggest disappointment of the first half, noting that he had even been relegated out of the starting lineup.[116] Quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who had started the first six games and had a "halftime" in the bye week, as there were still six games to play, viewed the bye week as a bonus: "We have a couple more days to prepare, get a good game plan and get ready to go to a hostile environment and play a really good football team. I think it's more of a bonus for us." Coach Bill O'Brien concurred, asserting that Penn State's win against Michigan gave Hackenberg confidence and development.[117]

    October 26 vs. Ohio State

    Penn State vs. Ohio State – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Penn State 0 7 0714
    #4 Ohio State 14 28 14763

    at The Horseshoe

    Game information

    In Penn State's second nationally televised, prime time game, which was to be called by Nittany Lion alumnus Todd Blackledge,[118] the Lions entered the game underdogs, even according to their local media.[119][120] The opening line put Ohio State 14.5 point favorites.[121] Pre-game buildup focused on Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller, for whom there "is no good way to stop",[118] and who Bill O'Brien called one of the top five players in the country.[120] In tandem with star running back Carlos Hyde, Ohio State was expected to score a lot of points, even against Penn State's improved defense; a preview from York Daily Record writer Frank Bodani gave Ohio State the edge on offense, citing the tandem of Miller and Hyde, defense, citing playmaking game-changers Noah Spence and Ryan Shazier, who play defensive end and linebacker respectively, special teams, noting their punt blocking ability and return game, coaching, noting that Ohio State had not yet lost under Urban Meyer, and intangibles, citing the sold-out crowd in prime time.[122] Keys to the game for Penn State were to contain Miller, not get beaten over-the-top in coverage, and running the ball, so as to avoid becoming one-dimensional offensively. Ohio State needed to contain Penn State receiver Allen Robinson with their star cornerback Bradley Roby, "ride Hyde" (run the ball with Carlos Hyde), and get pressure on freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg.[121] Penn State made a few changes on their depth chart for the game, including placing Bill Belton and Zach Zwinak on the first team separated with an "OR". Also, Deion Barnes and Anthony Zettel were listed with an OR between their names; Zettel started the previous week against Michigan.[123]

    The game marked just the 14th night game in Ohio Stadium history

    Ohio State got the ball to start the game, and promptly drove down the field on a 7-play, 75-yard drive culminating with a touchdown run by Carlos Hyde. Penn State responded with a solid drive of their own, running 12 plays and getting to the 12-yard line before Christian Hackenberg threw an interception in the end zone. The two teams exchanged punts, and then Ohio State scored, this time via a 39-yard run from their quarterback Braxton Miller. Hackenberg threw another interception late in the quarter, and Ohio State, early in the second quarter, capitalized with another touchdown. After scoring again, Penn State scored points for their first time to make the score 28–7, off a 12-yard touchdown reception by Brandon Felder. Ohio State scored twice more, and the halftime score was a 42–7 Ohio State advantage. After exchanging punts to start the second half, Zach Zwinak lost a fumble in Penn State territory for the second consecutive week, and for the second consecutive week, he did not carry the ball after it. It took Ohio State only two plays to take advantage, scoring a touchdown on a Miller pass to Dontre Wilson. On Penn State's next drive, Tyler Ferguson replaced Hackenberg at quarterback due to an injury he sustained earlier in the game,[124] Ferguson was no more effective, as Penn State ultimately punted. Ohio State scored once more in the third quarter, and they led 56–7 headed into the fourth quarter. After another touchdown for Ohio State, Ferguson threw a touchdown pass to Allen Robinson in which Robinson caught the screen pass behind the line of scrimmage, "runs around, weaving thru traffic from one sideline to the other, and finishes in the end zone for a touchdown".[125] That would be the final scoring play of the game, which ended 63–14.[126][127]

    In what linebacker Mike Hull described as "the worst game I've experienced", Penn State allowed the most points it had since 1889, when they lost to the Duquesne Athletic Club on November 25, 1889 64–5. Ohio State totaled 686 total yards, whereas Penn State totaled 357.[128] The game thrust the Buckeyes into consideration to play in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game, while it subjugated Christian Hackenberg, who "wasn't ready for Ohio State or the 'Shoe", according to an article on Bleacher Report.[129] An article from SBNation.com noted, "This Penn State one is a talented but extremely flawed one, flawed, especially defensively, in ways that are blatant and clear and easy for any well-coached offense to exploit, and flawed on offense with youth and with inexperience, destined to repeat the past because they must before it gets any better."[130]

    November 2 vs. Illinois

    Penn State vs. Illinois – Game summary
    1 2 34OTTotal
    Illinois 0 3 77017
    Penn State 7 7 03724

    at Beaver Stadium

    • Date: November 2
    • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
    • Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), cloudy, breezy, few showers
    • Game attendance: 95,131
    • Referee: Dan Capron
    • TV announcers (ESPN): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Joey Galloway (analyst), Loren Crispell (sideline)
    • ESPN Box Score
    Game information

    Coming off a shellacking against Ohio State, Penn State looked to rebound behind a strong defensive effort against Illinois. Linebacker Mike Hull noted, "Practice Monday and (Tuesday) was real energetic and we were smacking people out there. We’re ready to play another game on Saturday and get that taste of losing out of our mouth."[131] Keys to the game included moving on from the prior Saturday's defeat, limiting big plays on defense, containing Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase, and protecting quarterback Christian Hackenberg.[132] A pre-game analysis of statistical comparisons between the two squads gave Penn State an advantage in most offensive and defensive stats, while it gave Illinois an advantage on special teams. The analyst blamed sanctions imposed by NCAA president Mark Emmert in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal for that disparity, citing scholarship reductions hampering depth.[133]

    Illinois got the ball to start the game, and on their opening drive, Scheelhaase threw an interception, setting up Penn State at their own 16, from which they ran a 7-play, 84-yard drive highlighted by a 47-yard pass to Allen Robinson, and culminating with Bill Belton rushing for a 1-yard touchdown. Penn State scored on their second drive as well, a lengthy 17-play drive that encapsulated 7:15, and resulted in Christian Hackenberg running for a 9-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to take a 14–0 lead. After another Illinois punt, Penn State again drove down the field, but Sam Ficken missed a 37-yard field goal, his first miss on a kick inside of 40 yards on the season.[134] On the final drive of the first half, Illinois finally achieved points, with kicker Taylor Zalewski making a 21-yard field goal as time expired. After Penn State's first second-half drive faltered, Illinois took the field, and embarked on a 13-play, 88-yard drive, ended by an 8-yard touchdown run from Josh Ferguson. At the end of the third quarter, Penn State led 14–10. In the fourth quarter, the two teams each failed to score on their first drive, but on Illinois' second, Scheelhaase connected with Ferguson on a 7-yard pass to finish off a 13-play, 77-yard drive and take the lead for the first time in the game. Penn State's ensuing drive had promise, but ultimately ended when Belton lost a fumble at the two-yard line. Illinois failed to capitalize, however, and went three-and-out. Taking the field in Illinois territory, Penn State drove into field goal range, at which point Ficken made a 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 17 with 0:41 remaining. Illinois got the ball back, but after a false start penalty on them and a subsequent off-sides penalty on Penn State, they called timeout, and ran one additional play, on which Penn State recorded their first sack of the game. Time expired. In overtime, Penn State's second overtime game in their past three, they got the ball to start, and were faced with a third-down situation needing 11 yards to convert at the 15-yard line. Coming out of a timeout following a holding penalty that brought back a touchdown,[135] Kyle Carter made his first and only reception of the day, a 15-yard touchdown pass thrown into a tight window by Hackenberg on one of Penn State's "favorite" plays known simply as "pearl".[136] Illinois did not achieve a touchdown on their subsequent drive, as Ryan Keiser intercepted a pass on its first play, ending the game with Penn State emerging victorious, 24–17.[137]

    In a victory that coach Bill O'Brien refused to describe as either "ugly" or "fortunate" despite a variety of media sources doing so,[138][139] one article from Lancaster Newspapers described the game by saying,

    This was some bad football played by two teams going nowhere, both ailing mentally and emotionally over having been beaten on the road in their previous outings by a combined 88 points. And after a long day of players and coaches and officials throwing up all over each other, the truth that Illinois has not won a Big Ten game since Nov. 8, 2011 ... Which is to say, it came down to Illinois doing what it does, which is finding a way to lose, and Penn State doing what it (more often than not) does, which is to find a way to win.[113][140]

    Offensively, Penn State totaled 25 first downs, two fewer than Illinois, but 490 total offensive yards, exceeding Illinois by 79. Allen Robinson caught 11 passes, and was the only Penn State receiver with more than three catches. The shuffled offensive line on which Donovan Smith did not start, "yes, allowed a sack, and yes, committed a few penalties, but generally opened up gaping holes in the run game, gave Hackenberg plenty of time to throw, and controlled the line of scrimmage".[138] Running back Bill Belton set career highs with both 36 rushes and 201 yards, and was named Big Ten co-offensive player of the week. It was the first time a Penn State player had rushed for over 200 yards since Larry Johnson in 2002.[141] Defensively, Penn State stopped Illinois for a loss of yardage on only four plays, and though linebackers Mike Hull and Glenn Carson combined for 24 tackles, they had no interceptions, forced fumbles, sacks, or tackles for loss between them.[142] The secondary struggled, though did record two interceptions, mitigating their overall ineffectiveness, much of which, however, stemmed from defensive coordinator John Butler's incessant third-down blitzes, leaving one-on-one coverage for overmatched cornerbacks such as Jordan Lucas.[138]

    November 9 vs. Minnesota

    Penn State vs. Minnesota – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Penn State 7 3 0010
    Minnesota 10 14 0024

    at TCF Bank Stadium

    • Date: November 9
    • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
    • Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C), broken clouds
    • Game attendance: 48,123
    • Referee: Todd Geerlings
    • TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Joey Galloway (analyst), Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
    • ESPN Box Score
    Game information

    In the teams' first meeting since 2010, Penn State visited TCF Bank Stadium to face a Minnesota team looking for their fourth consecutive Big Ten victory, and their eighth win of the season, which would have been their first time since the 2003 season.[143] There was consensus among both Penn State's and Minnesota's SB Nation sites, as well as independent picks, that Minnesota would win a relatively close game.[143][144][145] Minnesota's offense was one of the better rushing teams in the conference (20th in the nation), but Penn State's defense was also pretty good against the run, making it a good matchup. Freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg in tandem with a running game that, in theory, was led by Bill Belton and supplemented by Zach Zwinak, and receivers Allen Robinson had potential to score a lot of points.[145] Keys to the game included avoiding turnovers and running the football.[144] Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill, recovering from seizures stemming from epilepsy, coached from the press box.[146]

    The game marked Penn State's first visit to TCF Bank Stadium

    Penn State received the opening kickoff, however on their first play from scrimmage, Bill Belton lost a fumble and Minnesota recovered and kicked a field goal after failing to achieve a first down. Penn State's punt on the subsequent drive was downed at the four-yard line, but the poor field position did not adversely affect Minnesota, who drove down the field for a 15-play, 96-yard drive, highlighted by a 24-yard pass from Philip Nelson to Maxx Williams to convert a fourth down to get down to the Penn State four-yard line, from which point they scored two plays later via a 1-yard run by David Cobb. Penn State responded, however, with Zach Zwinak rushing the ball 5 times for 61 yards including a 38-yard run, and ultimately a 6-yard touchdown scamper. At the end of the first quarter, Minnesota led 10–7.[147] In the second quarter, Minnesota wasted no time, embarking on a 13-play, 70-yard drive that lasted 6:54 and ended with Nelson rushing for a 6-yard touchdown. Penn State responded, driving down the field on 13 plays for 65 yards lasting 5:57, culminating with Ficken kicking a 27-yard field goal after the drive stalled in the red zone. Late in the half, Minnesota drove down the field, and Nelson completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Williams, putting Minnesota on top 24–10 at the half.[148] Receiving the second half kickoff, Minnesota initiated a drive that included a 39-yard run by Cobb, but ultimately ended in their first punt of the day, which they downed inside the one-yard line. Penn State achieved two first downs, but an illegal block in the back on Jesse James decimated the drive, which ended with a punt, but they caught a break a play later when Minnesota fumbled and Malcolm Willis recovered in Minnesota territory. The break did not materialize with any points, but their subsequent punt was downed inside the five yard line. Dreadful field position continued when, after driving for several yards, Minnesota's punt settled inside the five yard line, again setting Penn State up with a long field. In the waning moments of the third quarter, Penn State relied on Zwinak, who rushed several consecutive times to garner Penn State breathing room. There was no scoring in the third quarter. Penn State failed to convert a third down (they had still not converted any in the game), but Minnesota committed a roughing the kicker penalty, giving Penn State a second chance with which they converted their first third down of the game, but ultimately turned the ball over on downs. After a Minnesota punt, Penn State, for the first drive of the game, relied on their passing game to drive down the field, but, when faced with a fourth down and ten deep in Minnesota territory, failed to convert. On Minnesota's ensuing possession, however, they managed to run only 47 seconds off the clock, and went three-and-out. Hoping not to again blow an opportunity, Penn State moved promptly down the field, and got into the red zone. While there, a pass to Allen Robinson resulted in a pass interference penalty called against Minnesota, giving Penn State the ball at the two-yard line, from where they fumbled, and Minnesota recovered, and embarked on a possession from which they would not relinquish the ball, winning the game 24–10, after no scoring in the second half.[149]

    Following their victory and awarding of the Governor's Victory Bell, Minnesota players, purportedly "a little excited after ... the team’s first win over the Nittany Lions in nearly a decade", broke the trophy.[150] For Penn State, though coming off a 200-rushing yard performance, Belton took a back seat in the rushing attack to Zwinak after fumbling in the first quarter. In total, The Morning Call graded Penn State's offense by awarding them a C-, noting the lack of scoring despite opportunities in Minnesota territory, though noting Zwinak's resurgence as a mitigating factor. They awarded the defense the same grade, noting that though they improved in the second half, they were "torched" on consecutive drives early in the game. They summarized Penn State's coaching with a comment from O'Brien: "It seemed like, when we made a call, they had the right call for it." In total, the article asserted that overall, Minnesota was the superior team.[151] StateCollege.com's Ben Jones predominantly concurred, giving the offense a C-, but giving the defense a C+, noting that the defense did keep Penn State competitive in the game.[152]

    November 16 vs. Purdue

    Penn State vs. Purdue – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Purdue 0 14 7021
    Penn State 14 14 10745

    at Beaver Stadium

    Game information

    Coming off a loss to Minnesota the preceding week, Penn State looked to defeat Purdue, which they had in every meeting since 2004.[154] Though expected to beat an overmatched Purdue squad that was reeling, having lost 38–14 the prior week against Iowa, and 56–0 the week before that against Ohio State, and entering the game with a 1–8 record,[155] the Lions would have to do so with even less depth than normal. At his mid-week press conference, Bill O'Brien announced at the midweek press conference that Ben Kline would miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury, for which he sustained surgery.[156] There was also some pregame concentration surrounding the receiving corps – Allen Robinson was listed on the injury report with a shoulder injury, and Geno Lewis, who had proved to be a potential big play threat early in the season when he caught a 54-yard touchdown pass against Syracuse,[157] but had recently been relegated to special teams, was also expected to receive increased playing time in Penn State's second-to-last home game of the season.[158]

    Penn State received the opening kickoff, and on their first play from scrimmage, featured six offensive linemen (albeit unsuccessfully, as Bill Belton rushed for a one-yard loss),[159] before driving down the field on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with Belton rushing for a five-yard touchdown; he carried the load on the drive, rushing the ball eight times for 36 yards. Penn State would never relinquish that lead. Purdue subsequently went three-and-out, and Penn State responded with another long drive (10 plays, 66 yards) that again culminated with a rushing touchdown, this time from Zach Zwinak on a one-yard run, his tenth touchdown of the season, becoming the 16th Penn State player to eclipse 10, and the first since 2008, when both Evan Royster and Daryll Clark did.[160] Purdue's ensuing drive ended in the second quarter when quarterback Danny Etling threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Justin Sinz, making the score 14–7 Penn State. Bill Belton lost a fumble on Penn State's next drive, but Purdue turned the ball over right back to Penn State when Jordan Lucas intercepted an Etling pass. Zwinak rushed for his second one-yard touchdown of the game on the ensuing possession. The Nittany Lions scored once more in the first half, via an eight-yard pass from Christian Hackenberg to Adam Breneman, but on the ensuing kickoff, Purdue's Raheem Mostert scored a touchdown on a 100-yard return, thus ending the first half with a score of 28–14, Penn State holding the advantage. Purdue came out of halftime with a vengeance, driving down the field for 84-yards, ultimately pulling within 7 points on an 11-yard rush by Etling. The first field goal of the game occurred on Penn State's subsequent drive, a 29-yarder from Sam Ficken putting the Nittany Lions ahead 31–21. The Boilermakers turned the ball over again on their next drive, and Penn State capitalized when Zwinak rushed for his third touchdown of the game. Purdue turned the ball over on downs their final drive of the third quarter, though Hackenberg threw an interception giving Purdue an opportunity early in the fourth quarter; again, a fumble eliminated any chance of a scoring drive coming to fruition, and Penn State went up 45–21 when Hackenberg rushed for a 4-yard touchdown to culminate an 11-play, 74-yard drive that encapsulated over a third of the fourth quarter, and ended with 4:27 to play. That would be the final scoring drive of the game, which Penn State won by the aforementioned score, 45–21.[161]

    In a game in which Penn State dominated the line of scrimmage, the Nittany Lions rushed for 289 yards behind an offensive line that opened up significant holes, allowing Penn State to achieve their goal of rushing the football, despite not achieving offensive tackle Garry Gilliam's goal of 400 yards.[162] Purdue's coach Darrell Hazell had opined earlier in the week that Penn State's offensive line was not as good as previous opponents Wisconsin and Iowa, and Penn State used it as motivation, dominating the line of scrimmage, which numerous offensive lineman noted was "fun". Starting center Ty Howle, who noted,"It's fun, knowing you can go out there and impose your will each play. It's a lot of fun."[163] and all-conference guard John Urschel, who agreed, saying, "This was a real fun game for us, with respect to coming off the ball and just hitting guys. The offensive linemen really enjoyed it. We were having a blast. When you're an offensive lineman and you're getting yards, you want to run the ball over and over again."[164] Allen Robinson caught his 78th pass of the season with his fifth catch of the game, and in doing so topped his 77 catches from the 2012 season.[165] Aside from offensive accomplishments, the defense was also impressive, particularly play from Jordan Lucas, who ESPN commented earlier in the week plays with "swagger",[166] and who, during the game, intercepted a pass, garnering a comment from The Patriot News that he is the "top playmaker in the secondary".[167] Despite jubilation from the victory, including one Penn State player who quipped that the sixth win made Penn State bowl eligible (the NCAA banned Penn State from bowl participation as part of sanctions imposed in the Penn State child sex abuse scandal), seniors nostalgically remembered this was their second-to-last game at Beaver Stadium.[163] The Lions bounced back from their previous loss against Minnesota, and had not lost two consecutive games under Bill O'Brien since their first two in 2012.[165]

    November 23 vs. Nebraska

    Penn State vs. Nebraska – Game summary
    1 2 34OTTotal
    Nebraska 0 7 103323
    Penn State 6 0 77020

    at Beaver Stadium

    Game information

    On Senior Day at Penn State, the final home game of the season, the 6–4 Lions were set to host the 7–3 Nebraska Cornhuskers, however despite the Huskers having the better record, the opening line gave Penn State a two-point advantage.[169] Earlier in the week, it was announced that, in addition to the 14 seniors, Penn State would honor defensive tackle Kyle Baublitz, offensive tackle Garry Gilliam, and wide receiver Alex Kenney on the field prior to the game; none of the three planned to return for the 2014 season despite each having an additional year of eligibility.[170] Offensively for Penn State, Biletnikoff Award semifinalist wide receiver Allen Robinson entered the game by far Penn State's biggest threat in the passing game, with three times more receptions (81) entering the game than Penn State's second receiver, Brandon Felder (27).[171] Perhaps the biggest opportunity for Penn State's offense to achieve success against Nebraska's defense, however, was through the running game, either on the coattails of Bill Belton or Zach Zwinak; Nebraska's run defense had frequently been "gouged" against Big Ten offenses.[172] Similarly, Nebraska's offense would have an opportunity to continue to achieve success through its running game, led by Ameer Abdullah, who entered the game averaging 6.5 yards per carry.[173] He had picked up the slack in the absence of their prior starter at quarterback Taylor Martinez, sidelined due to injury. Penn State coach Bill O'Brien predicted that whichever team committed fewer turnovers would win, as both teams had previously experienced problems with turnovers, both entering the game with negative turnover margins.[174] Both teams entered the game with freshmen quarterbacks, in Christian Hackenberg for Penn State, and Tommy Armstrong for Nebraska, but both teams' primary playmakers came from outside the quarterback position, with Robinson for Penn State, and Abdullah for Nebraska.[175] According to York Daily Record writer Frank Bodani, Penn State's offense was more consistent than Nebraska's, who committed too many turnovers, giving Penn State the edge. Defensively, Penn State was hit-or-miss in their secondary as well as in stopping the run, so Nebraska, who was also inconsistent, held a slight edge with their playmakers Randy Gregory and Ciante Evans, Nebraska also held an edge on special teams due to consistency and depth, but Penn State had superior coaching as well as intangibles, with a "roaring crowd" on Senior Day.[176] With two hit-or-miss squads, most writers thought this would be a relatively close game, though a plurality leaned towards Nebraska edging out a victory, however some thought that Penn State's seniors would come out with a vengeance, never having defeated Nebraska since they joined the Big Ten, and the "resilient" group would use that motivation to eke out a victory in their final game at Beaver Stadium.[175][177]

    Shortly before the game, Penn State announced tailback Bill Belton would not play due to illness, leaving Zach Zwinak to carry the load in the running game in the snow.[178] Nebraska received the opening kickoff, and promptly went three-and-out, forcing a punt, which though Penn State returner Jesse Della Valle fumbled, but the Lions recovered, setting up Penn State at their own 23 yard line, but they too went three-and-out. Nebraska's second drive, however, got off to a much better start, as Ameer Abdullah rushed for a 25-yard gain on the drive's first play, but ultimately Penn State's defense held on a later third down and short play, forcing another punt. Penn State's subsequent drive showed promise, with Zwinak rushing for a few first downs (on one of which Nebraska star defensive back Cionte Evans was injured; he returned a few drives later), however they eventually punted, and for the second time, Alex Butterworth pinned them inside the 20, and Nebraska failed to execute, punting for the third time; on the punt return, Della Valle redeemed himself with a 25-yard return into Nebraska territory. Penn State took advantage of the field position, and in the waning seconds of the first quarter, Hackenberg threw a two-yard touchdown to Adam Breneman after Zwinak rushed the ball six times for a total of 27 yards; Sam Ficken missed the extra point, his first extra point miss of the season.[179] Penn State led at the end of the first quarter, 6–0.[180] On Nebraska's next drive, they entered with senior Ron Kellogg III at quarterback, after Armstrong's ineffectiveness. Kellogg III came in firing on all cylinders, completing his first three passes, before Abdullah ran for a first down, and then Kellogg III completed another pass, this time for a touchdown on a 27-yard pass to Quincy Enunwa. Nebraska made the extra point, taking a one-point lead. Penn State's next drive stalled, and again Butterworth was able to pin Nebraska inside the 20 on the ensuing punt. Nebraska subsequently went three-and-out, setting Penn State up with solid field position at their own 37-yard line. They got one first down, and were positioned for another, but Felder dropped a pass, and Penn State's ensuing punt was blocked after Butterworth dropped the low snap, setting up Nebraska in Penn State territory. Nebraska recorded the game's first third down conversion en route to getting the ball in the red zone. On a snap to Abdullah from the wildcat formation, he ran up the middle, but fumbled into the end zone, and Della Valle recovered in the end zone, setting Penn State up with some momentum at their 20-yard line, however they were unable to capitalize, going three-and-out. Nebraska's ensuing drive stalled, and they punted. Penn State came out trying to score before the half, and they did achieve a few first downs, but ultimately punted, and Nebraska downed the ball to go into half time leading by one.[181] Coming out of the half, the snow showers returned, and Penn State got the ball to start the half, and they did convert a third down for the first time of the game, however again, their drive stalled, and Butterworth punted the ball for the sixth time. Nebraska faced a third-and-long on their next drive, and on the play, C. J. Olaniyan sacked the quarterback, and forced and recovered a fumble, setting Penn State up inside the Nebraska 10 yard line. Two plays later, with the snow increasing in intensity, Hackenberg ran a play-action bootleg and rolled right, running for a 7-yard touchdown, putting Penn State up 13–7, as this time, Ficken made the extra point. The lead did not last long; Kenny Bell returned the ensuing kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown, the second consecutive week Penn State surrendered a return touchdown. Back where they started at the beginning of the half in terms of scoring differential, Penn State got the ball inside their own 20 after Geno Lewis fumbled the kickoff return (he recovered). Penn State achieved a first down on the drive, but a false start penalty set up a third-and-long situation from which they could not recover. They punted. Nebraska also punted on their next drive, and the punt was downed at the one-yard line. They did not remain in the shadow of their own goal post for long, as Zwinak rushed for four yards, and then, on a play action pass, Hackenberg threw a 43-yard pass to Allen Robinson. Two plays later, however, Evans intercepted Hackenberg's pass, giving Nebraska good field position at their own 48. They capitalized, kicking a field goal, going up by four. The Huskers led 17–13 at the end of the third quarter.[182] On the first play of the fourth quarter, Jesse James caught a pass in the flat on a third-and-three, and ran down the sideline for a 46-yard touchdown putting Penn State up 20–17. Penn State quickly got the ball back, and looked to milk clock with Zwinak running the football, however two incomplete passes decimated the drive, and they punted it back to Nebraska. After exchanging punts, Nebraska embarked on a drive that had a 62-yard run by Abdullah called back due to a personal foul penalty called. The foul occurred deep into the run, so Nebraska still got the ball at Penn State's 27-yard line. Subsequently, they moved the ball into the red zone, and got it down to the one-yard line before a false start backed them up to the six-yard line ... one play later, they called timeout, and on the next play, Kellogg III scrambled and got to the one-yard line before he and Mike Hull collided, jarring the ball loose, but the ruling was that Nebraska maintained possession, and Smith made a 19-yard field goal to tie the game at 20. When Penn State received the subsequent kickoff, they ran the ball several times, and ultimately punted the ball away with 1:40 remaining from their 38-yard line; it was downed at the five-yard line, setting up Nebraska with two of their three timeouts and 1:31 remaining. Nebraska was backed up inside their one on third-and-long, and threw a long pass that fell incomplete, however Jordan Lucas was flagged for pass interference. The next series, however, was decimated by penalties, and ultimately, Nebraska punted the ball away, and the game went into overtime, Penn State's third OT game of the season (they won the first two).[183] In overtime, Penn State got the ball first, and after failing to achieve a first down, lined up to attempt a field goal, but the typically reliable Ficken missed another kick, and Nebraska conservatively positioned themselves for a field goal try on their ensuing possession. They lined up for a 37-yard field goal, but committed a false start penalty backing them up five yards. It did not matter, however, as Smith hit a 42-yard field goal to win the game, 23–20.[184]

    Nebraska dominated Penn State on special teams, and ultimately, that advantage led to their victory. If it were not for Sam Ficken missing an extra point in the first quarter, Nebraska would not have been able to settle for a field goal late in the second half to send the game into overtime. In addition to the missed extra point, Penn State allowed a kickoff to be returned for a touchdown for the second straight week, and had a punt blocked.[185] Bill O'Brien commented, "We’ll continue to work hard in special teams. They’re good kids working hard."[186] Offensively, Penn State's was plagued by dropped passes that hindered Christian Hackenberg's overall performance, while the running game, though led by Zach Zwinak who rushed for 149 yards, was one-dimensional, as backup Akeel Lynch could muster only nine yards on five carries. Penn State's defense was "in control for long stretches", but ultimately allowed a third-string quarterback to win the game, and also allowed Ameer Abdullah to rush for 147 yards.[187] Prior to the game, Penn State's seniors were lauded with a video tribute that noted, "[Penn State was] led by your commitment, led by your loyalty, by your actions, led by example."[186] This was their third overtime game of the season, but their first overtime loss since 2002.[188]

    November 30 vs. Wisconsin

    Penn State vs. Wisconsin – Game summary
    1 2 34Total
    Penn State 7 7 10731
    #14 Wisconsin 0 14 01024

    at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI

    Game information

    In their final game of the season, Penn State looked to play spoiler and try to prevent Wisconsin from achieving a 10-win season and BCS Bowl opportunity in coach Gary Andersen's first season with the Badgers, who entered the game with a 9–2 record and were 24-point favorites to win the game.[189] The Badgers entered the game still employing their quintessential offensive philosophy even under their new coach – a power running game behind a physical offensive line led by two of the top rushers in the country, Melvin Gordon and James White, both of whom were on the preseason watchlist for the Doak Walker Award (given to the nation's best running back) and the former of whom was named one of ten semifinalists for the award in mid-November.[190][191] White, a tough runner in the middle of the field, had emerged in recent weeks, whereas Gordon, a speedster, led the team in rushing and led the country with an 8.2 yards-per-carry average.[191][192] Wisconsin's offense also featured a strong passing game, highlighted by quarterback Joel Stave and favorite target Jared Abbrederis, however one game preview asserted that Penn State's defense matched up well against the Badgers' offense.[192] Defensively, Wisconsin entered the game the fifth-best scoring defense in the country, allowing just 13.4 points per game. The "stingy" defense, the preview noted, would likely prove problematic for Penn State.[192]

    Camp Randall Stadium, the venue at which Penn State's final game of the season was played

    Penn State received the opening kickoff, and after achieving a first down, Christian Hackenberg threw a 68-yard pass to fellow freshman Adam Breneman for a touchdown, the first offensive touchdown Wisconsin had allowed in the previous eight quarters. Wisconsin failed to respond, going three-and-out, and punting on their subsequent drive. Penn State, though they began with poor field position, converted a few third downs, gained 52 yards on a bubble screen to Allen Robinson, and ultimately was faced with a fourth down and inches in the red zone, but committed a false start penalty bringing on the field goal unit. The field goal was blocked, continuing Penn State's special teams woes, however their defense remained stout, forcing another punt, however on the Lions' ensuing drive, Hackenberg threw his first incomplete pass of the day, forcing a punt. In the waning minutes of the first quarter, the Badgers embarked on a drive in which they scored several first downs from both the running game and passing game. At the end of the quarter, they trailed 7–0, but were threatening, and a few minutes later, tied the game via a 4-yard pass from Joel Stave to tight end Brian Wozniak. Later in the quarter, Wisconsin converted a third down and 16 situation, and ultimately scored a touchdown on a pass from Stave to Jeff Duckworth. On their next drive, Penn State was set up in the red zone after a pass interference call in the end zone that broadcaster Ed Cunningham criticized, and a few plays later scored a touchdown via a 3-yard pass to Geno Lewis. Lewis was uncovered on the goal line play, and though Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen ran down the sideline signalling for a timeout, it was not granted, and the play stood. At the half, the score was tied at 14. After Wisconsin's opening drive stalled, the Nittany Lions embarked on a demoralizing drive that fostered widespread defensive confusion from Wisconsin and ultimately ended when Jesse James caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Hackenberg to put Penn State on top 21–14. On the ensuing Wisconsin drive, Penn State freshman linebacker sacked Stave and forced a fumble that defensive end C. J. Olaniyan returned deep into Wisconsin territory. Penn State earned points, with Ficken redeeming himself on a 28-yard field goal to put Penn State up by 10 points. On the next two drives, each team went three-and-out. At the end of the third quarter, Wisconsin was near midfield during a drive in which they looked to pull within a field goal; at the end of the quarter, Penn State led 24–14. On one of the first plays of the fourth quarter, Trevor Williams intercepted Stave's pass, ending a scoring threat, and furthering the Nittany Lions' momentum. Penn State started their drive at their own 28-yard line, and had a third down and short, but a false start backed them up to a third and long; Hackenberg was unfazed, however, as he threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Geno Lewis, putting Penn State up by three possessions, 31–14. Down three scores, Wisconsin desperately needed a touchdown, and tried to convert a fourth down and 23, but Penn State recorded a sack, and subsequently got the ball with 9:49 to play. They failed to execute, and about a minute later, punted the ball away. Wisconsin drove down the field and pulled within 10, 31–21, on a Wozniak reception, his second touchdown catch of the day. Penn State got the ball off an onside kick with good field position, and faced a third down and three, but Donovan Smith committed his fourth false start of the day, and Penn State had to throw the ball, and the pass was incomplete. Penn State's subsequent punt was blocked. On the ensuing drive, Jack Russell kicked a career long 48-yard field goal to pull Wisconsin within seven points. Penn State started their drive after Wisconsin kicked it deep inside their own 20-yard line. Penn State got some decent yardage on first down, but committed another false start, backing them up. Zwinak came through for the Lions, however, rushing on third-and-nine for 61 yards, his longest run of the season. From there, Penn State's drive stalled, and with 35 seconds left, Ficken attempted a 31-yard field goal, but missed, and Wisconsin consequently needed to drive the length of the field to score a touchdown, and they did get into Penn State territory, but ultimately, with nine seconds left, Stave threw the ball into the end zone, and Penn State safety Ryan Keiser came away with the interception for a touchback. Christian Hackenberg took a knee to end the game, and the Nittany Lions concluded their upset, winning 31–24.[193][194]

    "The Nittany Lions stepped into Camp Randall as a 24-point underdog, as a struggling team that had just 61 scholarship players and was was [sic] set to face the nation's No. 15 team. But these Nittany Lions have become accustomed to overcoming the odds, and they again shocked Wisconsin in a 31–24 upset."

    Josh Moyer, ESPN Penn State/Big Ten Reporter, November 30, 2013[195]

    20-year Big Ten Conference veteran Bill LeMonnier was the game's referee, his final game before retiring. LeMonnier was the referee for the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, and past recipient of the Golden Whistle Award, given by the National Association of Sports Officials.[196] In the game, Penn State sent its seniors off by upsetting Wisconsin, ending the Badgers' hopes of playing in a BCS Bowl Game.[195] Using the fact that they were 24-point underdogs as motivation,[197] the Lions won the game by playing sound, fundamental football, not turning the ball over, while scoring two touchdowns subsequently off of Wisconsin interceptions.[195] The game was Penn State's first road win in Big Ten conference play.[197] After the game, to fulfill a bet, linebacker Glenn Carson cut the hair of offensive linemen (and roommates) Ty Howle and Adam Gress, both of whom had long hair that stuck out of their helmets that "bothered" Carson.[198][199]

    Statistics

    Passing

    Regular season
    Player ATT COMP YDS COMP % TD INT LONG PASS EFF
    Christian Hackenberg3922312,95558.9201068134.0
    Tyler Ferguson151015566.71065175.5

    Reference: Penn State Cumulative Season Statistics. Retrieved December 2, 2013.

    Rushing

    Regular season
    Player ATT YDS AVG LONG TD AVG/G
    Zach Zwinak2109894.7611282.4
    Bill Belton1578035.151573.0
    Akeel Lynch603586.042139.8
    Allen Robinson6366.01403.1
    Christian Hackenberg49−68−1.4154−5.7

    Reference: Penn State Cumulative Season Statistics. Retrieved December 2, 2013.

    Receiving

    Regular season
    Player REC YDS AVG LONG TD AVG/G
    Allen Robinson97143214.8656119.3
    Brandon Felder2831211.129326.0
    Jesse James2533313.358327.8
    Geno Lewis1823413.059319.5
    Kyle Carter1822212.329118.5
    Adam Breneman1518612.468316.9
    Bill Belton1515810.530214.4
    Richy Anderson131118.515010.1

    Reference: Penn State Cumulative Season Statistics. Retrieved December 2, 2013.

    Kicking

    Regular season
    Player XPM XPA FGM FGA FG% LONG PTS
    Sam Ficken4142152365.2%5486

    Reference: Penn State Nittany Lions 2013 Statistics – Team and Player Stats – ESPN. Retrieved December 2, 2013.

    Punting

    Regular season
    Player NO. YDS. AVG LONG TB I 20
    Alex Butterworth512,00039.266417
    Christian Hackenberg28542.54311

    Reference: Penn State Cumulative Season Statistics. Retrieved December 2, 2013.

    Defense

    Regular season
    Player SOLO AST TCK TFL SCK INT DEF FF FR
    Glenn Carson434790410300
    Mike Hull4434784.50.50211
    Jordan Lucas4520654.5131620
    Malcolm Willis402161101210
    DaQuan Jones33235611.530001
    C. J. Olaniyan2822501151331
    Adrian Amos32185042.51600
    Ryan Keiser2612382131100
    Stephen Obeng-Agyapong201434211111
    Nyeem Wartman1715322.510410
    Deion Barnes121628420210
    Austin Johnson141327310001
    Brandon Bell141024000010
    Trevor Williams (American football)177240021000
    Kyle Baublitz14923330100
    Jesse Della Valle13821000100
    Ben Kline99181.510000
    Anthony Zettel11516641300
    Carl Nassib11112210110

    Reference: Penn State Cumulative Season Statistics. Retrieved December 3, 2013.

    Rankings

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final 
    AP RV RV RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 
    Coaches NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 
    Harris Not released NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR Not released 
    BCS Not released NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR Not released

    Awards

    Post-season

    Less than a week after the season's conclusion, backup quarterback Tyler Ferguson announced his plans to transfer from the university to somewhere he would have an opportunity to start, rather than be Christian Hackenberg's backup for the remainder of his career.[208] Later, it was announced that though he originally intended to transfer to Western Kentucky (WKU), at which Bobby Petrino was head coach; when Petrino accepted the head coaching position at Louisville, Ferguson changed his plans, and transferred there.[209] In early December, it was reported that quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher and linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden, the latter of whom was a holdover from the Joe Paterno era, departed, with speculation that they were forced out by Bill O'Brien.[210]

    Departure of Bill O'Brien

    O'Brien in April 2012

    Several weeks after the departure of those assistants, reports began to surface that O'Brien had interviewed for the Houston Texans' head coaching position to replace Gary Kubiak, who was fired late in the season.[211] Subsequently, the two sides were reported to be negotiating a contract, and on January 3, 2014, the Texans held a press conference announcing O'Brien as their new head coach.[212] Assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Stan Hixon, safeties coach Anthony Midget, defensive coordinator John Butler, running backs coach Charles London, and strength coach Craig Fitzgerald submitted resignations on January 6, and most were expected to follow O'Brien to the NFL,[213] leaving only offensive line coach Mac McWhorter, who was 63 years old and came out of retirement to coach at Penn State, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, a long-time member of the staff, and tight ends coach John Strollo, as assistant coaches on the staff, and thus making Penn State more attractive of a coaching position to a new coach, as he could bring in his own staff.[214]

    Defensive line coach and interim coach Larry Johnson was a candidate for the head coaching position, but ultimately was not hired

    Early candidates for the job included former Rutgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano, Penn State alumni Al Golden, who was the coach of the Miami and Mike Munchak, who was the coach of the Tennessee Titans prior to his dismissal, and Pennsylvania native James Franklin, Vanderbilt's head coach, as well as Larry Johnson, Penn State's defensive line coach.[215] In the ensuing days, ESPN reported that the search committee, led by athletic director David Joyner, targeted Munchak, Franklin, and Golden as its top three candidates, but that Johnson remained in the mix.[216] On Sunday, January 5, 2014, Golden took himself out of contention for the position,[217] while Munchak appeared to be an emerging strong candidate.[218] Over the next few days, however, Franklin emerged as the top candidate, and on January 11, he was officially named and introduced as Penn State's head coach.[219] Upon his hiring, questions began to surface about whether he would retain Johnson or bring back Vanderlinden, the latter of whom was Maryland's head coach when Franklin was on its staff in 2000, to the staff;[220][221] unlike when O'Brien was hired and announced that he would retain the pair at his introductory press conference, Franklin simply noted that he would meet with the pair, but commented that he is "fiercely loyal" to his assistants from Vanderbilt, and intended to bring many with him to Penn State.[222] Ultimately, neither Johnson nor Vanderlinden were on Franklin's staff for the 2014 season, with the former accepting a position with rival Ohio State.[223]

    Intermittently, Penn State named Johnson, the lone remaining holdover from the Joe Paterno era, the interim head coach in an effort to stabilize the program to prevent recruit defection, as well as prevent current players, namely quarterback Hackenberg, whose father commented that he was undecided on whether or not to return, from transferring.[224][225] A few weeks later, however, it appeared Hackenberg would return, as Ferguson followed through on his plans to transfer, and Franklin lauded Hackenberg in his introductory press conference.[209][226][227] After the announcement of O'Brien's departure, star wide receiver Allen Robinson, a junior, declared that he would forgo his senior season, and enter the 2014 NFL Draft;[228] according to projections from a CBSSports.com mock draft, Robinson would likely be selected in the late first round.[229]

    Draft prospects

    Three players were invited to the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, held February 22–25, 2014, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana: DaQuan Jones, Allen Robinson, and John Urschel.[230]

    All-star games

    GameDateSitePlayers
    2014 East-West Shrine GameJanuary 18, 2014Tropicana Field
    St. Petersburg, Florida
    Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, Glenn Carson, John Urschel[231]
    2014 Senior BowlJanuary 25, 2013Ladd–Peebles Stadium,
    Mobile, Alabama
    DaQuan Jones[232]

    References

    1. "Quintet elected Nittany Lions co-captains". Penn State Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. November 30, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    2. Dodd, Dennis (July 24, 2013). "Penn State, one year later: Blue-chip QB Hackenberg sticks with Lions". CBSSports.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    3. "2013 Penn State Nittany Lions College Football Class Rankings". ESPN Insider – College Football Recruiting (subscription required). ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    4. Moyer, Josh. "PSU position preview: Linebackers". Nittany Nation – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    5. Moyer, Josh (August 30, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions to start Christian Hackenberg at QB". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
    6. Myerberg, Paul (August 26, 2013). "College football countdown – No. 37: Penn State". USA Today. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    7. Moyer, Josh (August 9, 2013). "Penn State season preview". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    8. Connelly, Bill (July 30, 2013). "2013 Penn State football's 10 things to know: Stay away, injury bug". SBNation.com. Vox Media. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    9. Fiutak, Pete (June 5, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions 2013 Preview". Scout.com – CFN Preview 2013. Microsoft. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
    10. "Penn State vs. Kent State Game Notes" (PDF). Penn State University Department of Athletics. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
    11. Maisel, Ivan (August 28, 2012). "Bill O'Brien cracking whip as Penn State prepares for opener". CFB Nation – ESPN (subscription required). ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    12. "Bill O'Brien is officially blue and white". Penn State Football. Williamsport.com. April 21, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    13. "Postgame Quotes – Bill O'Brien". Penn State Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. September 21, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    14. Roussel, Pete (June 12, 2013). "Wednesday June 12, 2013". CoachingSearch.com. CoachingSearch.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    15. "Coaching Staff". 2013 Penn State Football: 129. 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    16. Greene, Cari (August 30, 2013). "Preview: Penn State Nittany Lions vs Syracuse Orange". SB Nation - Philly.com. Interstate General Media. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    17. Russo, Ralph D. (August 31, 2013). "Pick 6: Unsettled QB Competitions". The Decatur Daily. Decatur, Alabama. Associated Press. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    18. Landis, Bill (August 26, 2013). "Penn State Football: QBs Ferguson, Hackenberg still listed as co-starters on season-opening depth chart". The Sentinel. Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    19. Moyer, Josh (August 30, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions to start Christian Hackenberg at QB". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    20. Juliano, Joe (August 31, 2013). "Report: Freshman Hackenberg Will Start for Penn State". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    21. Stallsmith, Shelly (August 31, 2013). "Wide Receiver Allen Robinson Doesn't Start for Penn State". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    22. "Syracuse Orange vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Play By Play – August 31, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
    23. Jones, Ben (August 31, 2013). "Penn State-Syracuse Live Blog". StateCollege.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    24. "Syracuse Orange vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. August 31, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    25. "Syracuse Orange vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Drivechart". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. August 31, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
    26. Bodani, Frank (September 5, 2013). "Penn State Preview: Next Man Up for Lions vs. Eastern Michigan". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    27. Hockensmith, Dustin (September 2, 2013). "Penn State's Christian Hackenberg, Sam Ficken Capture Big Ten Player of the Week Honors". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    28. Johnson, Travis (September 6, 2013). "DaQuan Jones Tackling Competition for Nittany Lions". Centre Daily Times. Centre County, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    29. Flounders, Bob (September 3, 2013). "Coming of Age: Penn State Defenders DaQuan Jones and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong Produced Breakout Efforts in Week 1". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    30. Moyer, Josh (September 6, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions Stephen Obeng-Agyapong past transition to LB". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    31. "Penn State vs. Michigan Game Notes" (PDF) (Press release). Penn State Athletics. October 10, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    32. McGonigal, John (September 6, 2013). "Penn State vs. Eastern Michigan: Offensive Matchups". The Daily Collegian. University Park, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    33. Orso, Anna (September 6, 2013). "Penn State vs. Eastern Michigan: Defensive Matchups". The Daily Collegian. University Park, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    34. Slanina, Jared (September 6, 2013). "Preview: Penn State vs. Eastern Michigan". SB Nation. Vox Media. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
    35. Gross, Mike (September 3, 2013). "Nittany Lions Lose Tight End Lehman for Season". Lancaster Newspapers. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    36. Petrella, Steven (September 6, 2013). "Tight End Depth Down with Lehman Injury". The Daily Collegian. University Park, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    37. McGonigal, John (September 6, 2013). "Nittany Lions Running Backs Looking to Improve Against Eastern Michigan". The Daily Collegian. University Park, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    38. Pianovich, Stephen (September 7, 2013). "Penn State Beats Eastern Michigan, 45–7". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    39. Armas, Genaro C. (October 18, 2012). "Penn State Revs up Offense in 'NASCAR' Mode". The Big Story. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
    40. Flounders, Bob (September 8, 2013). "The Penn State Report Card: Lions' Run Game, Defense Earn High Marks After Overpowering Eastern Michigan in Second Half". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    41. "Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Drivechart". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    42. Stallsmith, Shelly (September 7, 2013). "Penn State Runs Off 45 Unanswered Points to Beat Eastern Michigan". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    43. McGuire, Kevin (September 7, 2013). "Hackenberg Sets Penn State Freshman Passing Record in Win". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    44. "Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    45. "Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Play by Play". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    46. Flounders, Bob (September 8, 2013). "Penn State Stock Watch: The Attack of the Backup Running Backs". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
    47. Polak, Nick (September 9, 2013). "Eastern Michigan MVP: DaQuan Jones". Black Shoe Diaries – SBNation. Vox Media. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
    48. Tolley, Tim (September 10, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. UCF Knights Complete Game Preview". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
    49. Flounders, Bob (September 10, 2013). "Winning the day: Penn State likely looking at a 5–0 start if it defeats Central Florida Saturday". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
    50. Snyder, Audrey (September 11, 2013). "Penn State players aim to keep the mood light and the schedule routine as they prep for a night game". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
    51. Orso, Anna (September 11, 2013). "Penn State working to improve on third down after another subpar performance". The Daily Collegian. University Park, PA. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
    52. Slanina, Jared (September 11, 2013). "Know your foe: Central Florida Golden Knights". Black Shoe Diaries – SB Nation. Vox Media. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
    53. Slanina, Jared (September 13, 2013). "Penn State-Central Florida Game Preview". Black Shoe Diaries – SBNation. Vox Media. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
    54. Orso, Anna (September 13, 2013). "UCF, talented quarterback pose threat to unbeaten Nittany Lions". The Daily Collegian. University Park, PA. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
    55. "UCF Knights vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Play By Play – September 14, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
    56. Penn State Media Relations (September 14, 2013). "Nittany Lions fall to UCF". YourErie.com – Powered by JET 24 and FOX 66. Nexstar Broadcasting. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
    57. "UCF Knights vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Drivechart – September 14, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
    58. Volk, Pete (September 14, 2013). "Nice punt, UCF". SBNation.com. Vox Media. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
    59. "UCF Knights vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score – September 14, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
    60. Flounders, Bob (September 17, 2013). "Tackling a tough subject: Poor play, more than practice approach, was Penn State defense's problem vs. UCF". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    61. Juliano, Joe (September 14, 2013). "UCF vs. Penn State: Giving out grades". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    62. Associated Press (September 15, 2013). "Penn State's offense a bright spot vs. UCF". Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. NBC Universal. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    63. "Hackenberg named Big Ten Freshman of Week". Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. NBC Universal. September 16, 2013. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    64. Taylor, John (September 18, 2013). "Dri Archer Likely a No-Go for Kent vs. Penn State". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    65. Tolley, Tim (September 18, 2013). "Kent State Players to Watch – Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Kent State Golden Flashes Complete Game Preview". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    66. Orso, Anna (September 20, 2013). "Penn State vs. Kent State: Keys to the Game". The Daily Collegian. University Park, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
    67. Tolley, Tim (September 18, 2013). "Penn State Players to Watch – Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Kent State Golden Flashes Complete Game Preview". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    68. Giger, Cory (April 29, 2013). "Ranking Penn State's Real 'Supa Six' When It Comes to NFL Potential". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    69. Bennett, Brian (September 19, 2013). "Big Ten Football Awards Race Rracker: Week 4". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    70. Edwards, Devon (September 20, 2013). "Penn State Depth Chart and Injury Report: Kent State Edition". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
    71. Rittenberg, Adam; Bennett, Brian (September 19, 2013). "Big Ten Predictions: Week 4". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    72. Moyer, Josh (September 19, 2013). "Christian Hackenberg Continuing to Evolve as Penn State Nittany Lion". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
    73. "Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Drivechart". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
    74. Jones, Ben (September 21, 2013). "Penn State-Kent State Live Blog". Penn State Football. State College, PA: City Portals. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
    75. Stallsmith, Shelly (September 21, 2013). "Penn State Blanks Kent State 34–0". The Patriot News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    76. Bodani, Frank (September 22, 2013). "Ficken's 54-yard Kick the Longest for PSU Since '79". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    77. "Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Play By Play". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    78. "Zach Zwinak (three TDs), Penn St. Roll Past Kent State". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    79. Norton, Dan (September 22, 2013). "Lions' Defense Bounces Back with Shutout". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    80. Wogenrich, Mark (September 21, 2013). "Penn State Defeats Kent State at Beaver Stadium". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    81. "Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    82. Flounders, Bob (September 22, 2013). "Back to Back to Back: Penn State Has Three Talented Running Options this Season". The Patriot News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    83. Flounders, Bob (September 22, 2013). "The Penn State Report Card: Run Game, Suffocating Defense Spark Shutout of Kent State". The Patriot News. Harrisburg. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
    84. Moyer, Josh (September 27, 2013). "Bye week to-do list: Penn State Nittany Lions". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
    85. Tolley, Tim (September 27, 2013). "5 Players Who Need to Improve After the Bye". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
    86. Taylor, John (September 24, 2013). "NCAA to Reduce Scholarship Sanctions on Penn State". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
    87. Sedor, Michael (September 26, 2013). "Has Penn State Football Achieved Season's Biggest Victory During a Bye Week?". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
    88. Tolley, Tim (September 27, 2013). "TEs Kyle Carter, Jesse James, Adam Breneman – 5 Players Who Need to Improve After the Bye". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
    89. Nelson, Jeff (September 23, 2013). "Penn State-Indiana Big Ten opener set for noon kickoff". The Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
    90. Pickel, Greg (August 2, 2013). "Penn State Opponent Preview: Kevin Wilson, Indiana, entering make or break season". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
    91. "Indiana Overall Team Statistics". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
    92. Marot, Michael (September 22, 2013). "Tigers take advantage of Indiana's off-night 45–28". Associated Press. Columbus, Indiana. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
    93. Slanina, Jared (October 4, 2013). "Penn State-Indiana Game Preview". SB Nation. Vox Media. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
    94. Associated Press (November 17, 2012). "Penn State routs Indiana; Michael Mauti leaves with knee injury". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
    95. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Indiana Hoosiers – Play By Play – October 05, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
    96. Gross, Mike (October 5, 2013). "Miscues prove costly as Penn State falls to Indiana". Lancaster Newspapers. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
    97. Wogenrich, Mark (October 5, 2013). "Indiana scores first win over Penn State in 17 tries". The Morning Call. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
    98. Bodani, Frank (October 11, 2013). "Penn State Preview: Lions Hope Full House Will Create Winning Atmosphere vs. Michigan". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    99. Bodani, Frank; Dellinger, Samantha (October 12, 2013). "Penn State Preview" (PDF). York Daily Record. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    100. Slanina, Jared (October 11, 2013). "Penn State-Michigan Game Preview". SB Nation. Vox Media. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    101. Mancuso, Tony (October 11, 2013). "Lions host Wolverines in primetime". Penn State Athletics. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    102. Moyer, Josh (October 11, 2013). "With Michigan game, Penn State Nittany Lions at critical juncture". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    103. Dawson, Mike (October 8, 2013). "Ticketing Glitch Oversells Student Section for Penn State-Michigan Game". Centre Daily Times. State College, PA. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
    104. Jones, Ben (October 12, 2013). "Penn State-Michigan Live Blog". Penn State football. StateCollege.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    105. "Michigan Wolverines vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Play By Play". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    106. Orso, Anna (October 12, 2013). "Penn State finds victory over Michigan in quadruple overtime". The Daily Collegian. University Park, PA. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    107. "Michigan Wolverines vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Video – October 12, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
    108. "Lions score dramatic 43–40 4OT win vs. Michigan". Penn State Athletics. October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    109. Rickman, Martin (October 12, 2013). "Penn State outlasts No. 18 Michigan in 4OT". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    110. "Penn State Football Post – Postgame Notes". Penn State Athletics. October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    111. "Hackenberg named Athlon Sports national freshman of the week". Penn State Athletics. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    112. "Bye Week Notebook – News and Notes as Lions Prep for Ohio State". Penn State Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
    113. "Michigan vs Penn State (Oct 12, 2013) – Game Participation". Penn State Athletics. October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
    114. Moyer, Josh (October 16, 2013). "Bye week to-do list: Penn State Nittany Lions". CFB Nation – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
    115. Moyer, Josh (October 15, 2013). "Midseason report: Penn State". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
    116. Gross, Mike (October 20, 2013). "Looking at Penn State football's immediate past, present and future". Lancaster Newspapers. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
    117. "Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg welcomes bye week following Michigan thriller". The Express-Times. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
    118. Slanina, Jared (October 25, 2013). "Penn State-Ohio State Preview". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
    119. Berger, Zach (October 25, 2013). "Staff Predictions: Penn State vs. Ohio State". Onward State. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
    120. Bodani, Frank (October 25, 2013). "Penn State preview: Underdog Lions hope Ohio State is another prime-time upset". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on October 27, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
    121. Tolley, Tim (October 22, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes: Complete Game Preview". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
    122. Bodani, Frank (October 25, 2013). "Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (Graphic)" (PDF). York Daily Record. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
    123. Fitz, Sean (October 21, 2013). "Official depth chart released for Penn State-Ohio State". Lions247. 247 Sports in collaboration with CBS Sports. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
    124. Elder, Andy (October 27, 2013). "Hackenberg, Carson suffer injuries in loss". Centre Daily Times. State College, PA. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
    125. "Hey, Wha Happen? PSU 63–14". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. October 27, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
    126. "Penn State vs. Ohio State (October 26, 2013)". Penn State Athletics. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
    127. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes – Play By Play – October 26, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
    128. "No. 4 Buckeyes score early, often in win over Penn State". CBSSports.com. CBS Interactive. October 26, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    129. Regimbal, David (October 26, 2013). "Penn State vs. Ohio State: 10 Things We Learned in Buckeyes' Win". Bleacher Report. Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    130. Muma, Steven (October 28, 2013). "Penn State vs. Ohio State reaction: Nittany Lions, Buckeyes take stock". SBNation.com. Vox Media. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    131. Carlson, Jim (October 30, 2013). "Hull, Penn State defense ready for a rebound". The Reporter. Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Associated Press. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
    132. Flounders, Bob (October 31, 2013). "4 Keys: Penn State's path to a rebound against Illinois Saturday at Beaver Stadium". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
    133. Greene, Cari (October 30, 2013). "Just the Stats: Penn State vs. Illinois". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
    134. "Sam Ficken Stats, News, Videos, Pictures, Bio". Penn State Nittany Lions – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
    135. Cmor, Philip (November 3, 2013). "Nittany Lions have trouble scoring in red zone until OT". The Altoona Mirror. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
    136. Jones, Gordie (November 2, 2013). "Penn State finds a 'Pearl' of a win in OT". Lancaster Newspapers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
    137. "Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Play By Play – November 02, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
    138. Edwards, Devon (November 2, 2013). "An Ugly Win: Penn State 24, Illinois 17". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
    139. McGonigal, John (November 2, 2013). "Penn State beats Illinois, 24–17, in ugly overtime win". The Daily Collegian. University Park, PA. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
    140. Gross, Mike (November 2, 2013). "Penalty-palooza: Amid mashup of fouls, Penn State leaves a lot of room for improvement". Lancaster Newspapers. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
    141. Hockensmith, Dustin (November 4, 2013). "Penn State's Bill Belton named Big Ten co-offensive player of the week for 201-yard effort vs. Illinois". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
    142. "Illinois vs Penn State (Nov 02, 2013)". Penn State Official Athletic Site – Football. CBS Interactive. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
    143. Polzin, Jim (November 9, 2013). "Big Ten football picks: Minnesota's streak on the line vs. Penn State". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, WI. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    144. "Minnesota football: Previevw of Gophers vs. Penn State – Another Potential First Since ..." The Daily Gopher. Vox Media. November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    145. Slanina, Jared (November 8, 2013). "Penn State-Minnesota Game Preview". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    146. Wogenrich, Mark (November 7, 2013). "Jerry Kill leading Minnesota football revival from press box". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    147. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers – Play By Play – November 09, 2013 (first quarter)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    148. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers – Play By Play – November 09, 2013 (second quarter)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    149. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers – Play By Play – November 09, 2013 (fourth quarter)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    150. "Easy there! Gophers bust Governor's Victory Bell". Big Ten Network. November 9, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
    151. "Penn State football falls to Minnesota 24–10". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. November 9, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
    152. Jones, Ben (November 10, 2013). "Handing out the grades following Penn State's 24–10 loss to Minnesota". Penn State Football. StateCollege.com. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
    153. "Penn State vs Minnesota (Nov 09, 2013)". Penn State football. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
    154. "Football Game Notes – at Penn State". PURDUESPORTS.COM – Purdue Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    155. "2013 Purdue Boilermakers Football Schedule". FootballSchedules.com. USA Today Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    156. Moyer, Josh (November 12, 2013). "Ben Kline Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker out for season surgery". CFB Nation – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    157. McGonigal, John (September 1, 2013). "Penn State wide receiver Eugene Lewis shows big play ability in win over Syracuse". The Daily Collegian. University Park, PA. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    158. Gross, Mike (November 12, 2013). "Torn chest muscle costs Penn State LB Kline for rest of season". Lancaster Newspapers. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    159. Flounders, Bob (November 16, 2013). "Rapid Replay: Penn State 45, Purdue 21 (Beaver Stadium)". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    160. "Offense surges in 45–21 victory against Purdue". Penn State Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    161. "Purdue Boilermakers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Play By Play – November 16, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    162. Dent, Mark (November 17, 2013). "Penn State defeats Purdue, 45–21". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    163. Wogenrich, Mark (November 16, 2013). "Feeling challenged, Penn State responds by running over Purdue". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    164. Juliano, Joe (November 17, 2013). "Penn State pulls away from Purdue in second half". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    165. Gelston, Dan (November 16, 2013). "Penn State rolls over Purdue 45–21 behind Zwinak". NCAA College Football Recap - CBSSports.com. Associated Press: CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    166. Moyer, Josh (November 11, 2013). "Penn State CB Lucas finding 'swagger'". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
    167. Flounders, Bob (November 16, 2013). "Penn State 45, Purdue 21: 5 things we learned from Saturday's game at Beaver Stadium". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
    168. "Purdue vs Penn State (Nov 16, 2013)". Penn State Official Athletic Site – Football. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
    169. "Nebraska-Penn State Preview Capsule". Associated Press. November 21, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
    170. Johnson, Travis (November 19, 2013). "Gilliam, Kenney will not return next season". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    171. Johnston, Jon (November 21, 2013). "Nebraska vs Penn State: By The Numbers". Corn Nation. Vox Media. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    172. Slanina, Jared (November 22, 2013). "Penn State-Nebraska Game Preview". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    173. Mancuso, Tony (November 20, 2013). "2013 Opponent Preview – Nebraska". Penn State Athletic Communications. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    174. Mancuso, Tony (November 22, 2013). "Nebraska Gameday Preview – Lions Host Huskers on Senior Day". Penn State Athletic Communications. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    175. Moyer, Josh; Sherman, Mitch (November 22, 2013). "Roundtable: Talking Nebraska Cornhuskers-Penn State Nittany Lions game". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    176. Bodani, Frank (November 22, 2013). "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Nittany Lions" (PDF). York Daily Record. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    177. Bodani, Frank (November 22, 2013). "Penn State preview: Seniors savor final moments at Beaver Stadium". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    178. Wogenrich, Mark (November 23, 2013). "Penn State running back Belton will not play against Nebraska". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Archived from the original on November 24, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    179. "Sam Ficken Stats". Penn State Nittany Lions – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    180. "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score – November 23, 2013 (Q1)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    181. "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score – November 23, 2013 (Q2)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    182. "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score – November 23, 2013 (Q3)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    183. "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score – November 23, 2013 (Q4)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    184. "Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions – Box Score – November 23, 2013 (OT)". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
    185. Folck, Josh (November 25, 2013). "Penn State football team doomed by special teams in loss to Nebraska". The Express-Times. Lehigh Valley, PA. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    186. "Nebraska edges Nittany Lions in overtime". The Sentinel. Carlisle, PA. Associated Press. November 23, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    187. Flounders, Bob (November 24, 2013). "The Penn State Report Card: Lions don't make the grade against Nebraska on Senior Day". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    188. "Penn State Nittany Lions Overtime Games". GridironHistory.com. LRB Sports Media. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
    189. Jones, Ben (November 28, 2013). "Nittany Lions look to play spoiler against Wisconsin". Penn State Football. StateCollege.com. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
    190. Temple, Jesse (July 18, 2013). "UW's James White, Melvin Gordon recognized by Doak Walker Award committee". FOX Sports Wisconsin. Fox Sports Interactive Media. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
    191. Rittenberg, Adam (November 14, 2013). "Ameer Abdullah, Melvin Gordon semifinalists for Doak Walker Award". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
    192. Slanina, Jared (November 29, 2013). "Penn State-Wisconsin Preview". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
    193. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Wisconsin Badgers – Play By Play – November 30, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
    194. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Wisconsin Badgers – Drivechart – November 30, 2013". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
    195. Moyer, Josh (November 30, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions end Wisconsin Badgers BCS bowl hopes". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    196. "LeMonnier concludes 20-year career with Big Ten officiating program". Big Ten Conference. CBS Interactive. November 29, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
    197. Juliano, Joe (December 2, 2013). "Penn State upsets No. 14 Wisconsin". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    198. Bodani, Frank (November 30, 2013). "Penn State takes offense, upsets Wisconsin to send off seniors with win". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    199. Wogenrich, Mark (November 30, 2013). "Penn State defeats Wisconsin in Big Ten final game". The Morning Call. Allentown, PA. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    200. Pickel, Greg (December 2, 2013). "Lion receiver Allen Robinson Big Ten receiver of the year and talks future; three nab all-conference honors". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    201. "Robinson named first-team All-American". Scout.com. Fox Sports. December 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
    202. "Three Penn State football players earn first-team All-Big recognition". York Dispatch. December 2, 2013. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    203. Adamski, Chris (December 5, 2013). "Penn State notebook: Ferguson to explore transfer options". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
    204. Scaff, B. (December 11, 2013). "John Urschel awarded Campbell Trophy". Black Shoe Diaries. Vox Media. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
    205. "JC grad named to All-Big Ten team". WBNG-TV: Sports. Granite Broadcasting. December 3, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    206. "Check out the 2013 All-Big Ten football teams". Big Ten Network. Big Ten Network. December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    207. Bennett, Brian (December 3, 2013). "Big Ten Conference announces major football award winners". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
    208. Moyer, Josh (December 4, 2013). "Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Tyler Ferguson plans to transfer". Big Ten Blog – ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
    209. Fornelli, Tom (January 10, 2014). "Tyler Ferguson transferring to Louisville". Eye on College Football - CBSSports.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
    210. Flounders, Bob (December 3, 2013). "Reported departures of Ron Vanderlinden and Charlie Fisher indicate change is in the air". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
    211. Schwab, Frank (December 28, 2013). "Houston Texans reportedly closing in on hiring Penn State's Bill O'Brien as next head coach". Shutdown Corner – Yahoo Sports. Yahoo!. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    212. Associated Press. "Bill O'Brien officially named head coach of Houston Texans". NFL - SI.com. Time. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    213. Flounders, Bob (January 6, 2014). "Where have all the Penn state assistant coaches gone? Seven program members submit resignations". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
    214. Gross, Mike (January 5, 2014). "Penn State coaching picture keeps shifting focus". Lancaster Newspapers. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    215. Westerholm, Russell (January 2, 2014). "Penn State head coach candidates: Will one of these five be announced by the weekend?". University Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    216. McMurphy, Brett (January 4, 2014). "Penn State Nittany Lions coaching search targeting James Franklin, Al Golden, Mike Munchak". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    217. "Golden breaks silence, reaffirms commitment to Miami". Lancaster Newspapers. January 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
    218. "Around Nittany Nation: Golden's footing appears even, Munchak's stock on the rise". Lancaster Newspapers. January 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
    219. "Penn State selects James Franklin to lead football program". Penn State Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
    220. Edwards, Devon (January 10, 2014). "James Franklin's biggest recruit? Larry Johnson". Black Shoe Diaries - SBNation.com. Vox Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
    221. Pickel, Greg (January 11, 2014). "Scouting James Franklin's assistants, and which ones might join him in State college". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
    222. Bodani, Frank (January 11, 2014). "As James Franklin takes PSU reins, is there room for Larry Johnson?". York Daily Record. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
    223. Poorman, Mike (January 17, 2014). "Vander State? Franklin bringing all of his old staff: It's 8 down, 2 to go". Penn State football: StateCollege.com. StateCollege.com. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
    224. Flounders, Bob (January 3, 2014). "Christian Hackenberg and Penn State: Interim head coach Larry Johnson encouraged by chat he had with Hackenberg family". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    225. Juliano, Joe (January 3, 2014). "Penn State scrambles to retain O'Brien's recruits". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    226. Huguenin, Mike (January 9, 2014). "Report: Vandy's James Franklin to take over at Penn State". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
    227. Johnson, Travis (January 12, 2014). "Franklin ready to get started, pledges to 'dominate the state' in recruiting". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
    228. Huguenin, Mike (January 2, 2014). "Penn State WR Allen Robinson declares for 2014 NFL Draft". College Football 24/7 - NFL.com. NFL Enterprises. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    229. Hinnen, Jerry (January 2, 2014). "Penn State WR Allen Robinson declares for NFL Draft". Eye on College Football - CBSSports.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
    230. "Three Nittany Lions Invited to 2014 NFL Combine". Penn State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. February 7, 2014.
    231. "Trio of Nittany Lions playing in 89th annual East-West Shrine Game". Penn State Official Athletic Site. CBS Interactive. January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
    232. Hockensmith, Dustin (December 9, 2013). "Penn State's DaQuan Jones accepts invitation to Reese's Senior Bowl". The Patriot News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.